CVE-2015-9443 in accurate-form-data-real-time-form-validation Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The accurate-form-data-real-time-form-validation plugin 1.2 for WordPress has CSRF with resultant XSS via wp-admin/options-general.php?page=Accu_Data_WP.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2023
The CVE-2015-9443 vulnerability affects the accurate-form-data-real-time-form-validation plugin version 1.2 for WordPress systems, presenting a critical security risk through a cross-site request forgery attack that leads to cross-site scripting exploitation. This vulnerability specifically targets the wp-admin/options-general.php?page=Accu_Data_WP endpoint, which serves as the administrative interface for configuring the plugin's settings. The flaw demonstrates a classic security weakness where an attacker can manipulate a user's authenticated session to execute malicious actions without their knowledge or consent.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to implement proper CSRF protection mechanisms when processing form submissions to the administrative settings page. When a user visits a malicious website or clicks on a crafted link while authenticated to their WordPress admin panel, the attacker can trigger a CSRF attack that modifies the plugin configuration. The vulnerability becomes particularly dangerous because it allows the execution of arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of the victim's browser session, effectively enabling attackers to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of the user, or redirect them to malicious sites.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant threat to WordPress installations that rely on the affected plugin for form validation and data management. The combination of CSRF and XSS capabilities means that attackers can not only modify plugin settings but also inject malicious scripts that persist in the user's browser session. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited repeatedly, potentially leading to complete compromise of the WordPress administrative interface and underlying user data. The vulnerability affects any WordPress installation running version 1.2 of the accurate-form-data-real-time-form-validation plugin, making it particularly concerning for organizations with multiple sites or those that have not updated their plugins regularly.
The security implications extend beyond immediate exploitation as this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in web applications. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1548.002, which covers abuse of cloud services for persistence and privilege escalation. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including plugin updates to the latest version that addresses the CSRF protection gaps, implementing additional security measures such as Content Security Policy headers, and conducting thorough security audits of all installed plugins. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while ensuring that users follow the principle of least privilege when accessing administrative interfaces.
The remediation approach should prioritize immediate patching of the vulnerable plugin to version 1.3 or later, which contains the necessary CSRF protection mechanisms. Organizations should also establish automated monitoring systems to detect unauthorized changes to plugin configurations and implement regular security assessments of their WordPress installations. Security teams should review the plugin's code to ensure that all administrative endpoints properly implement nonce validation and CSRF tokens. Furthermore, administrators should consider implementing additional layers of protection including multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts and regular security scanning of their WordPress environments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other installed plugins or themes.