CVE-2012-1010 in AllWebMenus plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Unrestricted file upload vulnerability in actions.php in the AllWebMenus plugin before 1.1.8 for WordPress allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code by uploading a ZIP file containing a PHP file, then accessing it via a direct request to the file in an unspecified directory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-1010 represents a critical unrestricted file upload flaw within the AllWebMenus WordPress plugin version 1.1.7 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the actions.php script which handles file upload operations, creating an avenue for remote attackers to bypass security measures and execute malicious code on the target system. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization of uploaded files, allowing attackers to upload malicious PHP files disguised within ZIP archives without proper authorization or verification.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a specific attack pattern where an attacker first uploads a malicious ZIP file containing a PHP payload through the plugin's upload functionality. The vulnerability does not properly validate the contents of the uploaded ZIP file, permitting the extraction and execution of PHP code within the web server's document root. Once the malicious file is successfully uploaded, attackers can directly access it via HTTP requests, enabling arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the web server process. This represents a classic file upload vulnerability that aligns with CWE-434, which specifically addresses the improper restriction of file uploads that can lead to arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected WordPress installation. Successful exploitation can result in data theft, defacement of web content, installation of backdoors, and potential lateral movement within the network if the web server has access to internal systems. The vulnerability affects the integrity and availability of the web application, potentially compromising sensitive user data and credentials stored within the WordPress environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access, making it particularly dangerous for long-term compromise of the affected systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the AllWebMenus plugin to version 1.1.8 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement proper file upload validation mechanisms that reject executable files and enforce strict content type checking. The principle of least privilege should be applied by configuring web server permissions to prevent execution of uploaded files in web-accessible directories. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect and block suspicious upload attempts. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, highlighting the attack vectors and techniques that adversaries can employ to leverage such weaknesses. Regular security auditing and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar flaws in other plugins and themes, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in web applications.