CVE-2010-5296 in WordPress
Summary
by MITRE
wp-includes/capabilities.php in WordPress before 3.0.2, when a Multisite configuration is used, does not require the Super Admin role for the delete_users capability, which allows remote authenticated administrators to bypass intended access restrictions via a delete action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/31/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-5296 represents a critical access control flaw within WordPress Multisite installations that persisted through versions prior to 3.0.2. This issue specifically affects the capabilities.php file located in the wp-includes directory of WordPress core. The flaw manifests when WordPress is configured as a Multisite network, where administrators of individual sites within the network can potentially escalate their privileges through unauthorized deletion actions. The vulnerability stems from an improper validation mechanism that fails to enforce the necessary Super Admin role requirements for the delete_users capability, creating a significant security gap in the platform's permission model.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and specifically demonstrates how insufficient privilege checking can lead to unauthorized privilege escalation. In WordPress Multisite configurations, the system is designed to maintain strict separation between Super Admins who possess network-wide privileges and regular administrators who should only have control over their specific site within the network. However, the flaw in capabilities.php allows authenticated administrators to bypass these intended restrictions, enabling them to delete users across the entire network without proper authorization. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege, where users should only have access to resources necessary for their specific role.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for WordPress Multisite administrators who may not be fully aware of the security implications. Attackers who gain access to a regular administrator account can exploit this flaw to delete users, potentially including other administrators or super admins, leading to service disruption, data loss, and unauthorized access to network resources. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of WordPress Multisite by undermining the fundamental security model that separates network-level permissions from site-level permissions. This flaw could enable attackers to cause significant damage by removing critical users, disrupting network operations, or creating backdoors through user manipulation.
The mitigation for this vulnerability requires immediate patching to WordPress version 3.0.2 or later, which addresses the improper capability checking in the capabilities.php file. Organizations should also implement comprehensive monitoring of user deletion activities within Multisite configurations and establish proper role assignment practices to ensure that only trusted Super Admins possess the necessary privileges. Additional security measures include implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, conducting regular privilege reviews, and maintaining strict access control policies. The remediation process should also involve validating that all administrative users have appropriate authorization levels and that network-level capabilities are properly restricted to prevent unauthorized escalation. This vulnerability underscores the importance of proper privilege management in multi-tenant systems and demonstrates how seemingly minor access control flaws can have significant operational consequences in enterprise environments.