CVE-2006-3390 in WordPress
Summary
by MITRE
WordPress 2.0.3 allows remote attackers to obtain the installation path via a direct request to various files, such as those in the (1) wp-admin, (2) wp-content, and (3) wp-includes directories, possibly due to uninitialized variables.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2025
This vulnerability in WordPress 2.0.3 represents a critical information disclosure flaw that exposes the system's file path structure to remote attackers through direct requests to core directories. The vulnerability stems from uninitialized variables within the application's core files, specifically affecting paths within the wp-admin, wp-content, and wp-includes directories. When attackers make direct requests to these locations without proper authentication or validation, the application fails to properly initialize certain variables, leading to the exposure of the underlying installation path. This type of information disclosure vulnerability falls under the CWE-470 weakness category, which specifically addresses the use of insecure initialization of variables that can lead to information leakage. The exposure of installation paths provides attackers with crucial system information that can be leveraged for further exploitation attempts, including directory traversal attacks or targeted exploitation of other vulnerabilities present in the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple path disclosure, as it significantly weakens the security posture of WordPress installations by providing attackers with detailed system architecture information. Attackers can use the exposed paths to understand the application's directory structure, which aids in crafting more sophisticated attacks such as path traversal exploits or identifying potential weak points in the file system. This information disclosure creates a foundation for advanced persistent threats, as attackers can map out the complete installation structure and identify potential entry points for privilege escalation or data exfiltration. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of WordPress by breaking the principle of least privilege, where the application should not reveal internal path structures to unauthorized users. This weakness also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers discovery of file and directory permissions, as the exposed paths provide attackers with detailed information about the file system layout.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when WordPress processes requests to core directories without proper variable initialization, allowing the system to leak path information through error messages or direct response content. The uninitialized variables in question are typically related to file path handling within the application's core processing logic, where the system attempts to resolve and display file locations without proper sanitization or validation. This flaw exists in the application's core file handling mechanisms, particularly in how it manages requests to administrative and content directories that should normally be protected from direct access. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects multiple core directories simultaneously, providing comprehensive path exposure across the entire WordPress installation structure. Security researchers have noted that such information disclosure vulnerabilities often serve as precursors to more serious exploits, as they provide the foundational knowledge required for attackers to plan and execute targeted attacks against the system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of WordPress installations to versions that properly initialize variables and sanitize path handling operations. Organizations should implement web application firewalls that can detect and block direct requests to core WordPress directories, effectively preventing the exploitation of this information disclosure vulnerability. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to restrict direct access to WordPress core directories from external networks. Regular security audits should include checks for uninitialized variables and proper path handling in web applications, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper variable initialization in preventing information leakage. System administrators should also monitor web server logs for suspicious requests to core WordPress directories, as these patterns can indicate attempts to exploit the vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output sanitization practices can prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in custom WordPress themes and plugins that may be using similar flawed variable initialization patterns. The fix for this vulnerability typically involves ensuring that all variables are properly initialized before use and that the application does not expose internal path structures through error handling or direct response content.