CVE-2015-9451 in plugmatter-optin-feature-box-lite Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The plugmatter-optin-feature-box-lite plugin before 2.0.14 for WordPress has SQL injection via the wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=pmfb_mailchimp pmfb_tid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-9451 affects the plugmatter-optin-feature-box-lite WordPress plugin, specifically targeting versions prior to 2.0.14. This issue represents a critical security flaw that exposes WordPress installations to unauthorized data access and potential system compromise. The vulnerability manifests through the plugin's handling of user input within the administrative AJAX endpoint, creating an avenue for malicious actors to exploit the system's database layer.
The technical flaw resides in the improper sanitization of the pmfb_tid parameter within the wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=pmfb_mailchimp endpoint. When this parameter is processed without adequate input validation or escaping, it allows attackers to inject malicious SQL commands directly into the database query execution flow. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws that occur when user-supplied data is incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization. The weakness exists because the plugin fails to implement proper parameter binding or input filtering mechanisms that would prevent malicious SQL code from being executed within the database context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including data manipulation, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and potential privilege escalation within the WordPress environment. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to extract user credentials, modify database contents, or even gain administrative control over the affected WordPress installation. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it targets the administrative AJAX endpoint, which typically requires authentication but may be exploited through various attack vectors including cross-site request forgery or session hijacking techniques that align with ATT&CK tactic TA0001 (Initial Access) and TA0003 (Persistence).
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the plugmatter-optin-feature-box-lite plugin to version 2.0.14 or later, which contains the necessary input validation and sanitization fixes. Organizations should also implement additional security measures including input validation at multiple layers, proper parameterized queries, and regular security auditing of installed WordPress plugins. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth, though they should not replace proper code-level fixes. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date WordPress plugins and following secure coding practices that prevent injection attacks. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially vulnerable plugins or custom code that may exhibit similar patterns of insecure input handling, ensuring that all components of the WordPress ecosystem maintain proper security hygiene as recommended by industry standards including OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks.