CVE-2015-9424 in multicons Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The multicons plugin before 3.0 for WordPress has CSRF with resultant XSS via the wp-admin/options-general.php?page=multicons%2Fmulticons.php global_url or admin_url parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-9424 affects the multicons plugin version 3.0 and earlier for the WordPress content management system. This issue represents a critical security flaw that combines cross-site request forgery with cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, creating a dangerous attack vector for malicious actors targeting WordPress installations. The vulnerability specifically resides within the plugin's handling of parameters in the WordPress admin interface, where it fails to properly validate and sanitize user input before processing.
The technical flaw manifests through the improper handling of the global_url or admin_url parameters within the wp-admin/options-general.php?page=multicons%2Fmulticons.php endpoint. When an attacker crafts a malicious request containing these parameters, the plugin processes them without adequate validation mechanisms, allowing for the injection of malicious JavaScript code. This occurs because the plugin does not implement proper CSRF protection measures combined with insufficient input sanitization, creating a pathway for arbitrary code execution within the context of an authenticated WordPress administrator's session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables attackers to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users without their knowledge or consent. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to inject malicious scripts that would execute in the administrator's browser, potentially leading to complete compromise of the WordPress installation. The vulnerability allows for persistent XSS attacks that could be used to steal session cookies, modify site content, install backdoors, or perform other malicious activities that would be attributed to the legitimate administrator. The combination of CSRF and XSS creates a particularly dangerous scenario where attackers can bypass traditional security controls and gain elevated privileges within the WordPress environment.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which describes Cross-Site Request Forgery, and CWE-79, which covers Cross-Site Scripting. The attack pattern follows techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 for Phishing, as attackers would likely use this vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads through social engineering campaigns. Organizations running affected versions of the multicons plugin should immediately implement mitigations including updating to version 3.0 or later, implementing proper input validation, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests targeting the vulnerable parameters. Additionally, administrators should review and restrict plugin permissions, implement multi-factor authentication, and conduct regular security audits to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across their WordPress installations.