CVE-2019-14773 in Woody Ad Snippets Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
admin/includes/class.actions.snippet.php in the "Woody ad snippets" plugin through 2.2.5 for WordPress allows wp-admin/admin-post.php?action=close&post= deletion.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-14773 resides within the Woody ad snippets plugin for WordPress, specifically in the admin/includes/class.actions.snippet.php file. This issue affects versions through 2.2.5 and presents a critical authorization bypass flaw that allows unauthorized users to manipulate administrative functions through a carefully crafted request to wp-admin/admin-post.php. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the plugin's administrative interface, creating a path for privilege escalation and potential system compromise.
The technical flaw manifests through improper validation of the action parameter in the admin-post.php endpoint, which accepts a close action along with a post ID parameter. When an attacker can manipulate these parameters, they gain the ability to delete content that should normally be restricted to authorized administrators. This represents a classic case of insufficient access control where the plugin fails to verify whether the requesting user possesses appropriate privileges to perform the deletion operation. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple content deletion, as it can enable attackers to disrupt website functionality, remove critical advertising content, or potentially gain deeper access to the WordPress installation. An attacker could leverage this flaw to systematically remove advertising snippets, causing revenue loss for site owners while potentially destabilizing the website's functionality. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous for high-traffic websites or those with significant advertising revenue. This flaw also creates potential for data integrity issues and can serve as a stepping stone for further attacks against the WordPress installation.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate plugin updates to versions that address the authorization bypass, along with comprehensive access control reviews of all administrative endpoints. System administrators should implement network-level restrictions to limit access to wp-admin endpoints and deploy web application firewalls to monitor for suspicious parameter manipulation patterns. Regular security audits should verify that all administrative functions properly validate user privileges and that input parameters are sanitized before processing. Organizations should also consider implementing role-based access controls that limit administrative capabilities to only those users who require such privileges, reducing the attack surface for similar authorization bypass vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in web applications, particularly those handling administrative functions within content management systems.