CVE-2015-9417 in testimonial-slider Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The testimonial-slider plugin through 1.2.1 for WordPress has CSRF with resultant XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2023
The CVE-2015-9417 vulnerability affects the testimonial-slider plugin version 1.2.1 and earlier implementations within the WordPress ecosystem, representing a critical security flaw that combines cross-site request forgery with cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. This dual nature makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to exploit user sessions and execute malicious scripts within the targeted WordPress environment. The vulnerability resides in the plugin's handling of user input and form submissions without proper validation and anti-CSRF mechanisms.
The technical flaw manifests through the plugin's failure to implement proper CSRF protection measures when processing form submissions and configuration changes. When administrators or users interact with the testimonial-slider plugin interface, the system does not validate the origin of requests or implement anti-CSRF tokens, creating an avenue for attackers to craft malicious requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress system. This weakness enables attackers to manipulate the plugin's functionality through forged requests, potentially altering testimonial configurations or injecting malicious content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation to include full session hijacking capabilities and persistent XSS execution. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the context of authenticated users' browsers, potentially leading to complete account compromise, data exfiltration, or further propagation within the WordPress installation. The XSS component allows for the execution of arbitrary scripts that can steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, and CWE-79, which covers Cross-Site Scripting. The attack pattern follows the MITRE ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.007 for command and control through scriptlets, and T1566 for initial access via malicious content. Organizations using affected versions of the testimonial-slider plugin face significant risk of unauthorized administrative access and persistent malicious presence within their WordPress installations.
Mitigation strategies include immediate plugin updates to versions that address the CSRF and XSS vulnerabilities, implementation of web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious requests, and regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes. Administrators should also enforce proper input validation, implement CSRF tokens for all form submissions, and maintain comprehensive backup procedures to quickly restore systems in case of successful exploitation. Additionally, network segmentation and privilege separation can limit the damage potential if an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability.