CVE-2015-9497 in ad-inserter Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The ad-inserter plugin before 1.5.3 for WordPress has CSRF with resultant XSS via wp-admin/options-general.php?page=ad-inserter.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/17/2024
The CVE-2015-9497 vulnerability affects the ad-inserter plugin for WordPress versions prior to 1.5.3, representing a critical security flaw that combines cross-site request forgery with cross-site scripting exploits. This vulnerability exists within the WordPress administration interface at the wp-admin/options-general.php?page=ad-inserter.php endpoint, where the plugin fails to implement proper anti-CSRF protection mechanisms. The flaw allows attackers to execute malicious code on vulnerable systems through carefully crafted requests that manipulate the plugin's configuration settings.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's lack of CSRF tokens in its administrative forms and validation processes. When administrators visit the plugin's settings page, the interface does not properly verify the authenticity of requests originating from the legitimate administration interface. This absence of proper request validation creates an opportunity for attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated administrators. The vulnerability's exploitation path involves an attacker constructing a malicious webpage or email that, when visited by an administrator, automatically submits a request to modify the ad-inserter plugin configuration. These modifications can include injecting malicious JavaScript code into the plugin's settings, which then gets executed whenever the plugin renders advertisements on the website.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code injection, as it provides attackers with a persistent backdoor for executing arbitrary commands on affected WordPress installations. Once successfully exploited, the XSS payload can be used to steal administrator session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, inject malicious advertisements, or even escalate privileges within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the privileged administrative context, meaning that successful exploitation grants attackers full control over the plugin's functionality and potentially the entire WordPress installation. The persistent nature of the vulnerability means that once the malicious code is injected, it continues to execute until manually removed, creating a long-term security risk for affected organizations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-9497 require immediate plugin version updates to 1.5.3 or later, which includes proper CSRF token implementation and request validation. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as monitoring administrative interface access logs for suspicious activity, deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests, and conducting regular security audits of installed plugins. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution. Administrators should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts, and regularly review plugin permissions and capabilities to ensure least privilege access. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to verify that the updated plugin functions correctly and that no existing malicious code remains in the system.