CVE-2010-5106 in WordPress
Summary
by MITRE
The XML-RPC remote publishing interface in xmlrpc.php in WordPress before 3.0.3 does not properly check capabilities, which allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended access restrictions, and publish, edit, or delete posts, by leveraging the Author or Contributor role.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-5106 represents a critical authorization bypass flaw within WordPress's XML-RPC implementation that fundamentally undermines the platform's access control mechanisms. This issue affects WordPress versions prior to 3.0.3 and specifically targets the xmlrpc.php file which serves as the remote publishing interface for the platform. The vulnerability stems from insufficient capability validation within the XML-RPC remote publishing interface, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate their privileges beyond what their assigned user roles should permit. The flaw enables authenticated users with Author or Contributor roles to perform actions that should be restricted to users with higher privileges, effectively compromising the multi-level access control architecture that WordPress employs to protect content management operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which describes improper authorization conditions within software systems. The flaw manifests when the xmlrpc.php interface fails to properly validate user capabilities before executing publishing operations, allowing attackers to manipulate XML-RPC requests to perform unauthorized actions. This represents a classic case of insufficient input validation and privilege checking within web applications, where the system trusts user-provided parameters without adequate verification of the user's actual authorization level. The vulnerability specifically impacts the WordPress core's handling of XML-RPC requests, which are designed to enable remote publishing capabilities for users who have been granted appropriate permissions through their roles and capabilities.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents significant risks to WordPress installations since it allows attackers with relatively low-privilege accounts to perform high-impact operations such as publishing new posts, modifying existing content, or deleting published material. The implications extend beyond simple content manipulation as these actions can be used to spread malware, deface websites, or disrupt content management workflows. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it leverages legitimate WordPress functionality while exploiting a design flaw in the capability checking system. Attackers can use this vulnerability to bypass security controls that should prevent unauthorized modifications to published content, potentially leading to reputational damage, data loss, or unauthorized content distribution that could be used for phishing or other malicious activities.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve updating to WordPress version 3.0.3 or later, where the capability checking mechanisms have been properly implemented to validate user permissions before executing XML-RPC publishing operations. System administrators should also implement network-level controls to restrict access to xmlrpc.php, particularly for users who do not require remote publishing capabilities. Additional protective measures include monitoring for unusual XML-RPC activity, implementing rate limiting to prevent automated exploitation attempts, and ensuring that only trusted users have Contributor or Author roles within the WordPress installation. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper capability validation in web applications and serves as a reminder of how seemingly minor flaws in access control can result in significant security breaches. Organizations should also consider implementing security monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous XML-RPC usage patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability operates through legitimate API endpoints that are often not closely monitored for suspicious activity.