CVE-2013-2199 in WordPress
Summary
by MITRE
The HTTP API in WordPress before 3.5.2 allows remote attackers to send HTTP requests to intranet servers via unspecified vectors, related to a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) issue, a similar vulnerability to CVE-2013-0235.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2199 represents a critical server-side request forgery flaw in WordPress versions prior to 3.5.2, specifically affecting the HTTP API component that handles outbound requests from the web server. This vulnerability enables remote attackers to manipulate the WordPress application into making HTTP requests to internal network resources that would otherwise be inaccessible from the internet. The flaw operates through unspecified vectors within the HTTP API implementation, allowing malicious actors to exploit the application's trust in its own internal request handling mechanisms.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-918, which categorizes server-side request forgery as a security weakness where applications fail to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied input that influences the destination of HTTP requests. The vulnerability specifically allows attackers to bypass normal network access controls and potentially gain unauthorized access to internal systems, databases, or services that are typically protected behind firewalls or network segmentation. This issue is particularly concerning because it leverages the legitimate functionality of WordPress's HTTP API to perform unauthorized actions, making detection more challenging and the attack less obvious.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-2199 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable attackers to perform reconnaissance activities against internal network infrastructure, potentially leading to further exploitation of other vulnerabilities within the internal network. Attackers could use this vulnerability to probe internal services, gather sensitive information about internal systems, or even attempt to pivot to other systems within the network. The similarity to CVE-2013-0235 demonstrates a pattern of vulnerabilities in web application frameworks where HTTP request handling components fail to properly validate destination URLs, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate application behavior.
From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1018 for remote system discovery, as attackers can leverage the vulnerability to map internal network topology and identify potential targets for further exploitation. The attack surface is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through various entry points including blog comments, contact forms, or any user input that gets processed through the HTTP API. Organizations running vulnerable WordPress installations face significant risk of lateral movement within their networks and potential data exfiltration from internal systems that are normally protected by network security controls.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching to WordPress version 3.5.2 or later, which addresses the underlying SSRF issue in the HTTP API implementation. Network-level controls such as implementing strict egress filtering and firewall rules can help reduce the impact of successful exploitation by limiting access to internal resources. Additionally, organizations should implement proper input validation and URL sanitization for all user-supplied data that might influence HTTP requests, following the principle of least privilege for HTTP API usage. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual outbound HTTP requests from web servers, particularly those that attempt to access internal IP ranges or non-public domains that would not normally be accessed by the application.