CVE-2015-9337 in profile-builder Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The profile-builder plugin before 2.1.4 for WordPress has no access control for activating or deactivating addons via AJAX.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-9337 affects the profile-builder plugin version 2.1.3 and earlier for WordPress platforms. This security flaw represents a critical access control weakness that allows unauthorized users to manipulate plugin functionality through AJAX requests. The issue stems from the plugin's failure to implement proper authentication and authorization checks when processing addon activation and deactivation commands. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious AJAX requests that target the plugin's administrative endpoints, potentially enabling them to modify plugin behavior without proper credentials or privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability lies in the plugin's AJAX handling mechanism which lacks sufficient input validation and user permission verification. When administrators or authenticated users make requests to activate or deactivate addons, the system should verify that the requesting user possesses appropriate administrative rights before executing these operations. However, the profile-builder plugin fails to perform these checks, creating an attack surface where any user with access to the WordPress site can manipulate addon states. This weakness directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor secure coding practices that align with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software systems. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform unauthorized administrative actions through the web interface, potentially leading to complete compromise of the affected WordPress installation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks within the WordPress environment. An attacker who gains the ability to activate or deactivate addons can potentially introduce malicious code, disable security features, or disrupt normal site operations. This vulnerability particularly affects WordPress sites that rely heavily on profile-builder for user management and registration processes, as it undermines the integrity of the user authentication system. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it operates through standard AJAX communication channels that are often not closely monitored by security systems, making detection more difficult. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for phishing, as it allows attackers to leverage existing administrative functionality to gain broader access to the system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-9337 primarily focus on immediate plugin updates to version 2.1.4 or later, which contain the necessary access control fixes. Administrators should also implement additional security measures including monitoring AJAX requests for unusual patterns, restricting access to plugin administrative interfaces through firewall rules, and ensuring proper user role management within WordPress. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block malicious AJAX requests targeting the vulnerable endpoints. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins should include verification of access control mechanisms, particularly for plugins that handle administrative functions. The vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing robust authentication checks for all administrative endpoints and serves as a reminder that even seemingly minor functionality can create significant security risks when proper access controls are absent. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure timely updates of all WordPress components and prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.