CVE-2015-9409 in alo-easymail Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The alo-easymail plugin before 2.6.01 for WordPress has CSRF with resultant XSS in pages/alo-easymail-admin-options.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2023
The CVE-2015-9409 vulnerability affects the alo-easymail WordPress plugin version 2.6.01 and earlier, presenting a critical security flaw that combines cross-site request forgery with cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. This vulnerability exists within the plugin's administrative interface at the pages/alo-easymail-admin-options.php file, making it accessible to attackers who can manipulate the plugin's configuration settings. The flaw allows malicious actors to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser when they visit a compromised page or are tricked into clicking a malicious link, potentially leading to unauthorized actions on the WordPress site.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of proper CSRF protection mechanisms in the plugin's administrative forms. When administrators access the plugin's options page, the application fails to validate that requests originate from legitimate sources within the same session. This missing validation creates an opportunity for attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated administrators. The XSS component arises because the plugin does not properly sanitize or escape user input before rendering it in the administrative interface, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute when the page loads.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or account compromise. Attackers can leverage this flaw to modify plugin configurations, potentially disabling security features or altering email delivery settings to redirect communications. The combination of CSRF and XSS creates a powerful attack vector that can be exploited to gain persistent access to the WordPress administration panel, modify content, install malicious plugins, or even establish backdoors for future access. This vulnerability particularly affects WordPress sites that rely on the alo-easymail plugin for email marketing campaigns, as it provides attackers with access to sensitive email lists and campaign data.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery issues, and CWE-79, which covers cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. The attack pattern follows common threat methodologies documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of web application attacks, specifically targeting administrative interfaces. Organizations should immediately update to version 2.6.01 or later of the alo-easymail plugin to remediate this vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should implement proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms, regularly audit plugin configurations, and maintain comprehensive monitoring of administrative activities. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of CSRF protection in web applications and the potential for cascading security issues when multiple vulnerabilities exist within a single component.