CVE-2015-9395 in users-ultra Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The users-ultra plugin before 1.5.64 for WordPress has SQL Injection via an ajax action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2023
The CVE-2015-9395 vulnerability affects the users-ultra plugin version 1.5.63 and earlier for WordPress, representing a critical SQL injection flaw that exposes the underlying database to unauthorized access. This vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's ajax action handling mechanism, which processes user requests without proper input validation or sanitization. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious SQL code through crafted parameters in the ajax requests, potentially enabling full database compromise and unauthorized data manipulation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient parameter validation within the plugin's ajax processing functions. When users interact with the plugin through ajax calls, the system fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries. This creates an environment where malicious actors can construct SQL injection payloads that bypass standard security measures, leveraging the plugin's legitimate ajax endpoints to execute arbitrary database commands. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a fundamental weakness in application security where untrusted data is directly incorporated into SQL commands without proper escaping or parameterization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it enables attackers to escalate privileges and potentially gain complete control over the WordPress installation. Successful exploitation could result in unauthorized access to user credentials, personal information, and sensitive database content. Attackers might also leverage this vulnerability to inject malicious code into the WordPress environment, creating persistent backdoors or deploying additional malware. The risk is particularly severe because the vulnerability operates through legitimate ajax endpoints that are typically not subject to strict security scrutiny, making detection more challenging. This vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1566 for phishing with malicious attachments, as attackers could use this vulnerability to establish persistent access to target systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-9395 require immediate patching of the users-ultra plugin to version 1.5.64 or later, which implements proper input validation and parameterized query execution. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious ajax requests, while conducting thorough security assessments of all installed WordPress plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, database access controls should be reviewed to limit the privileges of the WordPress database user account, reducing the potential impact of successful exploitation. Regular security audits and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to proactively identify and remediate similar weaknesses in the application stack, following security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks.