CVE-2019-15773 in nd-travel Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The nd-travel plugin before 1.7 for WordPress has a nopriv_ AJAX action that allows modification of the siteurl setting.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-15773 affects the nd-travel plugin version 1.7 and earlier for WordPress platforms. This issue resides within the plugin's handling of AJAX requests and specifically targets the nopriv_ AJAX action functionality. The flaw enables unauthorized modification of critical site configuration parameters, particularly the siteurl setting that controls how WordPress interprets and constructs URLs throughout the application. This represents a significant security weakness that could be exploited by malicious actors to manipulate fundamental web application behavior.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control measures within the plugin's AJAX handling mechanism. The nopriv_ prefix typically indicates that an AJAX action should be accessible without authentication, but in this case, the implementation lacks proper authorization checks for the specific action that modifies the siteurl setting. This creates a scenario where any unauthenticated user can potentially submit malicious requests to alter core WordPress configuration parameters. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-863, which addresses improper access control, and represents a classic example of insufficient authorization in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration modification and can enable more sophisticated attacks within the WordPress environment. An attacker who exploits this vulnerability could redirect traffic to malicious domains, potentially leading to phishing attacks or credential harvesting. The modification of the siteurl setting could also disrupt normal site operations, cause broken links, or create opportunities for further exploitation. This vulnerability could be leveraged as a stepping stone for more advanced attacks, potentially allowing attackers to redirect users to malicious sites or manipulate the application's URL generation logic. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it affects core WordPress functionality and could be combined with other vulnerabilities to create more severe compromises.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-15773 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to version 1.7 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed. System administrators should also implement network-level restrictions to limit access to AJAX endpoints and consider implementing additional authentication layers for critical configuration modifications. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and access control mechanisms, particularly when dealing with administrative functions exposed through AJAX interfaces. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of all WordPress plugins to identify similar authorization flaws and ensure that all configuration changes require proper authentication and authorization. The remediation process should include monitoring for suspicious activity related to siteurl modifications and implementing proper logging mechanisms to track configuration changes. This vulnerability underscores the necessity of following secure coding practices and adhering to ATT&CK framework principles for preventing unauthorized access to critical system parameters.