CVE-2015-9434 in kiwi-logo-carousel Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The kiwi-logo-carousel plugin before 1.7.2 for WordPress has CSRF with resultant XSS via the wp-admin/edit.php?post_type=kwlogos&page=kwlogos_settings tab or tab_flags_order parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2023
The kiwi-logo-carousel plugin for WordPress contains a critical vulnerability that combines cross-site request forgery with cross-site scripting attacks, creating a significant security risk for affected installations. This vulnerability exists in versions prior to 1.7.2 and specifically targets the administrative interface of WordPress, making it particularly dangerous for site administrators who have access to the backend. The flaw is embedded within the plugin's handling of user input in the wp-admin/edit.php?post_type=kwlogos&page=kwlogos_settings tab, where the tab_flags_order parameter fails to implement proper validation and sanitization measures. The vulnerability stems from the plugin's lack of anti-CSRF protection mechanisms, which allows malicious actors to craft specially crafted requests that can be executed without the user's knowledge or consent.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when an authenticated administrator visits a malicious website or clicks on a compromised link that triggers a cross-site request to the vulnerable WordPress installation. The malicious request can modify the tab_flags_order parameter through a CSRF attack, which then gets reflected back to the user in the admin interface without proper sanitization. This creates a persistent XSS condition where the malicious payload is stored and executed whenever the affected admin page is loaded. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no special privileges beyond an existing administrator session, and the attacker can leverage the victim's elevated permissions to execute arbitrary code within the context of the WordPress installation. The flaw violates fundamental security principles by failing to implement proper input validation, output encoding, and anti-CSRF token mechanisms that are essential for protecting administrative interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with a pathway to establish persistent access to WordPress installations. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially modify plugin settings, inject malicious scripts into the admin interface, or redirect administrators to phishing sites that can capture credentials or escalate privileges further. The vulnerability affects not just the immediate plugin functionality but can serve as a foothold for broader attacks against the entire WordPress ecosystem, especially in environments where multiple plugins and themes are installed. Organizations running vulnerable versions of the kiwi-logo-carousel plugin face significant risk of compromise, particularly in cases where administrators may inadvertently visit malicious websites or where social engineering attacks are employed to trigger the exploit.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching to version 1.7.2 or later, which includes proper CSRF token implementation and input sanitization for the affected parameters. Administrators should also implement additional security measures such as regular security audits of installed plugins, monitoring of administrative interfaces for unauthorized modifications, and enforcement of strong access controls including multi-factor authentication. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following security best practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and the CWE catalog, specifically addressing CWE-352 for cross-site request forgery and CWE-79 for cross-site scripting. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities in their WordPress installations. Regular security updates and vulnerability assessments remain crucial for maintaining the security posture of WordPress environments, as this vulnerability illustrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws can create significant security risks in administrative interfaces.