CVE-2007-3639 in WordPress
Summary
by MITRE
WordPress before 2.2.2 allows remote attackers to redirect visitors to other websites and potentially obtain sensitive information via (1) the _wp_http_referer parameter to wp-pass.php, related to the wp_get_referer function in wp-includes/functions.php; and possibly other vectors related to (2) wp-includes/pluggable.php and (3) the wp_nonce_ays function in wp-includes/functions.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-3639 represents a significant security flaw in WordPress versions prior to 2.2.2 that enables malicious actors to manipulate user navigation and potentially extract sensitive information through improper input validation. This vulnerability specifically targets the WordPress content management system's handling of HTTP referer parameters and nonce functions, creating multiple attack vectors that could compromise user sessions and redirect traffic to malicious destinations.
The primary technical flaw resides in the wp_get_referer function located within wp-includes/functions.php, which fails to properly sanitize the _wp_http_referer parameter when processing requests through wp-pass.php. This parameter injection vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate the referer header value, which is then used to construct redirection URLs without adequate validation. The issue extends beyond the initial vector to include wp-includes/pluggable.php and the wp_nonce_ays function, creating additional attack surfaces where malicious referer values could be exploited to manipulate nonce validation processes. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization and validation mechanisms that should have been implemented to prevent untrusted user input from influencing critical system behavior.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it enables attackers to perform open redirect attacks that can be used for phishing campaigns, social engineering attacks, and credential theft. When users are redirected to malicious websites through manipulated referer parameters, they may unknowingly provide sensitive information to attackers who have crafted deceptive landing pages. The potential for sensitive information disclosure exists because the vulnerable functions do not properly validate or sanitize input before using it in security-critical contexts, potentially allowing attackers to extract session cookies, authentication tokens, or other confidential data from user browsers. This vulnerability particularly affects WordPress installations that rely on referer-based security measures and could be exploited in conjunction with other attack vectors to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to user accounts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate upgrade to WordPress version 2.2.2 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization for referer parameters. System administrators should implement comprehensive input validation at all entry points where user-supplied data is processed, particularly for parameters that influence redirection behavior. The implementation of proper output encoding and validation techniques, as recommended by CWE-601 and aligned with ATT&CK technique T1566 for phishing, can prevent malicious referer values from being processed as valid redirection targets. Additionally, organizations should deploy web application firewalls and implement proper security headers to mitigate the impact of such vulnerabilities. Regular security auditing and input validation testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other components of the WordPress ecosystem, following established security frameworks such as those defined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future versions.