CVE-2011-10004 in reciply Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
A vulnerability was found in reciply Plugin up to 1.1.7 on WordPress. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects some unknown processing of the file uploadImage.php. The manipulation leads to unrestricted upload. The attack may be initiated remotely. Upgrading to version 1.1.8 is able to address this issue. The identifier of the patch is e3ff616dc08d3aadff9253f1085e13f677d0c676. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. The identifier VDB-242189 was assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-10004 represents a critical security flaw in the reciply WordPress plugin version 1.1.7 and earlier. This vulnerability resides within the file uploadImage.php component of the plugin, which processes image uploads from users. The flaw allows for unrestricted file upload capabilities, meaning that malicious actors can bypass normal upload restrictions and potentially execute arbitrary code on the target system. The vulnerability has been classified as critical due to its potential for remote code execution and the ease with which it can be exploited by attackers who can initiate the attack remotely without requiring local system access. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the file upload processing logic, creating a pathway for attackers to upload malicious files such as web shells or other harmful executables that could compromise the entire WordPress installation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic insecure file upload flaw that maps to CWE-434, which describes the weakness of allowing files to be uploaded to a web application without proper validation and sanitization. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious file uploads that bypass security checks, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that threat actors can leverage this flaw from anywhere on the internet without needing physical access to the target system. The affected plugin's file uploadImage.php script fails to properly validate file types, file extensions, or file content, allowing attackers to upload files with potentially dangerous extensions or content that can be executed within the web server context. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in web applications because it can lead to persistent threats where malicious files remain on the server and can be executed repeatedly, making it a favored target for attackers seeking long-term access to compromised systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or service disruption, as it can enable full system compromise and persistent access to the affected WordPress installation. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can upload malicious files that provide remote access capabilities, allowing them to execute commands on the server, steal sensitive data, or use the compromised system as a launchpad for attacking other systems within the network. The vulnerability's presence in a widely used plugin like reciply increases the potential attack surface significantly, as many WordPress sites may be running vulnerable versions without proper security monitoring in place. Organizations using this plugin are at risk of having their systems compromised, leading to potential data breaches, service outages, and reputational damage. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor security practices in the plugin development lifecycle, where proper input validation and file type checking were not implemented or adequately tested.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediately upgrading to version 1.1.8 of the reciply plugin, which contains the patch identified by the commit hash e3ff616dc08d3aadff9253f1085e13f677d0c676. This upgrade addresses the core issue by implementing proper file validation mechanisms that prevent the upload of malicious files through the file uploadImage.php script. Security teams should also implement additional protective measures including restricting file upload capabilities where possible, implementing strict file type validation, and monitoring for suspicious upload activities. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their WordPress installations to identify other potentially vulnerable plugins and ensure that all components are running patched versions. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining updated security practices and regularly reviewing third-party components for known security issues. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, as it represents an attack against a publicly accessible web application component that allows for remote exploitation. The remediation process should include not only patching the specific vulnerability but also implementing broader security controls such as web application firewalls, regular security audits, and maintaining updated threat intelligence to prevent similar issues from occurring in other components of the WordPress ecosystem.