CVE-2015-9435 in oauth2-provider Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The oauth2-provider plugin before 3.1.5 for WordPress has incorrect generation of random numbers.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2023
The oauth2-provider plugin for WordPress versions prior to 3.1.5 contains a critical cryptographic vulnerability related to random number generation that fundamentally undermines the security of the authentication system. This flaw falls under the category of weak randomness implementation, which is classified as CWE-330 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The vulnerability specifically affects the plugin's ability to generate cryptographically secure random values required for OAuth2 authentication flows, creating potential attack vectors that could be exploited by malicious actors to compromise user sessions and access credentials.
The technical implementation of the random number generation within the plugin utilizes predictable or insufficiently random seeding mechanisms that fail to meet cryptographic standards required for secure authentication protocols. This weakness directly impacts the generation of access tokens, refresh tokens, and other critical cryptographic elements used in the OAuth2 flow. Attackers could potentially predict or reproduce the random values used in the authentication process, allowing them to forge tokens, impersonate users, or gain unauthorized access to protected resources within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability represents a fundamental breakdown in the cryptographic foundation of the plugin's security model.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft to encompass potential full system compromise when combined with other attack vectors. An attacker exploiting this weakness could establish persistent access to WordPress administrative interfaces, modify content, inject malicious code, or escalate privileges within the system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core authentication mechanism of the platform, making it a prime target for automated exploitation tools. This weakness creates a persistent backdoor that could remain undetected for extended periods, as the flawed random number generation would not produce obvious anomalies in system behavior.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate plugin updates to version 3.1.5 or later, which addresses the random number generation implementation through proper cryptographic seeding and entropy sources. Organizations should also implement comprehensive monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns and token usage that could indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct thorough audits of all WordPress installations to identify potentially affected systems and ensure proper patch management processes are in place. The remediation process should include verification that the updated plugin correctly implements cryptographic random number generation according to industry standards such as those specified in NIST SP 800-90A for random number generation. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing additional authentication layers such as multi-factor authentication to provide defense-in-depth against potential exploitation attempts.