CVE-2006-2702 in WordPress
Summary
by MITRE
vars.php in WordPress 2.0.2, possibly when running on Mac OS X, allows remote attackers to spoof their IP address via a PC_REMOTE_ADDR HTTP header, which vars.php uses to redefine $_SERVER[ REMOTE_ADDR ].
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-2702 represents a significant security flaw in WordPress version 2.0.2 that specifically affects installations running on Mac OS X systems. This issue stems from a lack of proper input validation and sanitization within the vars.php file, which serves as a core component in WordPress's request processing pipeline. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to manipulate the HTTP headers sent by clients, specifically targeting the PC_REMOTE_ADDR header, which is subsequently used to override the standard $_SERVER[REMOTE_ADDR] variable that WordPress relies upon for determining client IP addresses.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the trust placed in HTTP headers by the WordPress application. When WordPress processes incoming requests through vars.php, it accepts the PC_REMOTE_ADDR header value and directly assigns it to the $_SERVER[REMOTE_ADDR] variable without performing adequate validation or sanitization checks. This behavior creates a path for attackers to inject malicious IP addresses that will be used throughout the application's logging, access control, and security mechanisms. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to masquerade as any IP address they choose, potentially bypassing IP-based security measures and access controls that rely on accurate client identification.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple IP address spoofing, as it fundamentally undermines the integrity of WordPress's security infrastructure. Attackers could leverage this weakness to circumvent IP-based restrictions, potentially gaining unauthorized access to administrative functions or bypassing security mechanisms designed to protect against brute force attacks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where WordPress installations rely on IP-based access controls or where logging systems depend on accurate IP address information for forensic analysis and threat detection. This weakness could also enable attackers to manipulate audit trails and security logs, making it difficult for system administrators to accurately track and respond to security incidents.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and demonstrates how insecure header handling can lead to privilege escalation and unauthorized access. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and defense evasion, as attackers can manipulate the application's view of their own IP address to bypass security controls. The issue also relates to CWE-310, which covers cryptographic weakness, as it represents a failure to properly validate and sanitize input data that could be used to manipulate the application's internal state. Organizations running WordPress 2.0.2 on Mac OS X systems should immediately implement mitigations including header validation, IP address verification mechanisms, and comprehensive security monitoring to detect unauthorized manipulation of HTTP headers. The recommended approach involves patching the WordPress installation to a version that properly validates and sanitizes header inputs, implementing proper input validation at the web server level, and establishing robust monitoring for suspicious header modifications that could indicate exploitation attempts.