CVE-2019-15867 in slick-popup Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The slick-popup plugin before 1.7.2 for WordPress has a hardcoded OmakPass13# password for the slickpopupteam account, after a Subscriber calls a certain AJAX action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/11/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-15867 resides within the slick-popup WordPress plugin version 1.7.1 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that enables unauthorized privilege escalation. This issue specifically targets the plugin's handling of AJAX requests and demonstrates a dangerous practice of hardcoding credentials within application code. The vulnerability manifests when a user with Subscriber role invokes a particular AJAX action, which subsequently triggers the creation or activation of a slickpopupteam account with a predetermined password. This hardcoded credential presents a significant risk as it remains unchanged across deployments and can be exploited by any malicious actor who gains subscriber-level access to the WordPress installation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows a pattern that aligns with CWE-798, which addresses the use of hardcoded credentials in software applications. The flaw occurs at the application logic level where the plugin fails to properly validate or authenticate user requests before executing privileged operations. When the specific AJAX endpoint is accessed, the system automatically provisions an administrative account with the predictable password OmakPass13#, effectively bypassing normal authentication mechanisms. This represents a classic case of insecure credential management and improper access control implementation, as the system assumes that legitimate users cannot be malicious and fails to enforce proper authorization checks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential full system compromise. An attacker with subscriber access can leverage this flaw to gain administrative control over the WordPress installation, potentially leading to complete data breach, defacement, or the installation of additional malware. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal prerequisites since it only necessitates a valid subscriber account, which are often more easily obtained than administrative credentials. This makes the attack surface particularly concerning for websites that do not properly enforce user access controls or monitor for suspicious administrative activities.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in relation to ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation tactics, specifically the use of hardcoded credentials for unauthorized access. The recommended mitigations include immediate patching to version 1.7.2 or later, which addresses the hardcoded password issue through proper credential management practices. Additionally, administrators should implement network segmentation, monitor for unusual AJAX activity, and enforce strict access controls for user accounts. The incident highlights the importance of following secure coding practices such as avoiding hardcoded credentials, implementing proper authentication validation, and conducting thorough security testing of web applications. Organizations should also consider implementing automated security scanning tools that can detect hardcoded credentials in application code and provide alerts for such security misconfigurations.