CVE-2015-9496 in freshmail-newsletter Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The freshmail-newsletter plugin before 1.6 for WordPress has shortcode.php SQL Injection via the 'FM_form id=' substring.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/23/2019
The CVE-2015-9496 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw in the freshmail-newsletter plugin for WordPress, affecting versions prior to 1.6. This vulnerability specifically targets the shortcode.php file and exploits a weakness in how the plugin processes the 'FM_form id=' parameter. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the plugin's shortcode handling mechanism, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands through the form identifier parameter.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious shortcode containing specially formatted input in the FM_form id attribute. The plugin fails to properly escape or validate this input before incorporating it into sql queries, creating a direct path for sql injection attacks. This flaw falls under the CWE-89 category of sql injection vulnerabilities, where user-supplied data is directly concatenated into sql command strings without proper sanitization. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the plugin's legitimate shortcode functionality to execute malicious commands against the underlying database.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-9496 extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can lead to complete database compromise, unauthorized user account creation, content manipulation, and potential lateral movement within the affected wordpress installation. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and administrative access details stored within the database. The vulnerability also enables attackers to modify or delete content, potentially causing service disruption and data integrity issues that can affect the entire website's functionality and reputation.
Organizations using affected versions of the freshmail-newsletter plugin should immediately implement multiple layers of defense including patching to version 1.6 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Network-based intrusion detection systems should monitor for suspicious shortcode patterns and sql injection attempts. Additionally, administrators should review and restrict plugin permissions, implement web application firewalls, and conduct thorough security audits of all installed plugins. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices as outlined in the OWASP top ten security risks and aligns with ATT&CK techniques for credential access and defense evasion through database manipulation. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.