Overview
As part of our ongoing endeavor to keep you informed about the latest cybersecurity vulnerabilities, we bring to your attention an important vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-10139. This security loophole affects the WPLMS theme for WordPress, specifically versions 1.5.2 to 1.8.4.1. This vulnerability matters because it enables privilege escalation, leaving the potential for system compromise or data leakage. This implies that an authenticated attacker could alter restricted settings and potentially create a new, accessible admin account.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2015-10139
Severity: High (8.8 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential system compromise, data leakage, and unauthorized access to admin account
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
WPLMS Theme for WordPress | 1.5.2 to 1.8.4.1
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability lies in the ‘wp_ajax_import_data’ AJAX action of the WPLMS theme for WordPress. An attacker, who is authenticated, can use this action to escalate their privileges. This security loophole gives the attacker the ability to change settings that are generally restricted. The most worrisome aspect of this vulnerability is that it could potentially be used to create a new, accessible admin account – giving the attacker full control of the system.
Conceptual Example Code
Here’s a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited. Note that this is a simplified example and actual exploit code may vary.
POST /wp_ajax_import_data HTTP/1.1
Host: targetsite.com
Content-Type: application/json
{
"action": "import_data",
"user_role": "admin",
"new_user": "attacker",
"new_password": "password123"
}In this example, the attacker sends a POST request to the ‘wp_ajax_import_data’ endpoint, with a JSON payload that includes an action to import data, a user role set to ‘admin’, and details for the new user.
This code could lead to an unauthorized admin account being created, giving the attacker full control over the targeted WordPress site.
Mitigation and Recommendations
The best course of action to protect your systems from this vulnerability is to apply the vendor patch as soon as possible. If immediate patching is not feasible, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can offer temporary mitigation. Regular vulnerability scanning and patching routines are recommended to keep systems secure from known vulnerabilities.