CVE-2013-4144 in swfupload Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/30/2022
There is an object injection vulnerability in swfupload plugin for wordpress.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4144 represents a critical object injection flaw within the swfupload plugin for WordPress, a widely used file upload component that enables users to upload files through flash-based interfaces. This vulnerability resides in the plugin's handling of user-supplied data during file upload operations, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary objects into the application's memory space. The flaw specifically manifests when the plugin fails to properly sanitize or validate input parameters received from the flash upload component, allowing attackers to manipulate the object instantiation process and potentially execute arbitrary code within the context of the web server.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of flash upload parameters that are processed by the WordPress plugin. When users interact with the flash-based upload interface, the swfupload component sends data back to the WordPress server, which then processes this information without adequate validation mechanisms. This creates an environment where attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable plugin, result in object injection attacks. The vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-94, which describes "Improper Control of Generation of Code" and specifically relates to situations where user-controllable data is used to generate code or objects without proper sanitization, making it susceptible to code injection attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it provides attackers with the capability to escalate privileges and potentially gain full control over the affected WordPress installation. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to upload malicious files, modify existing content, create new administrative accounts, or even establish persistent backdoors within the web application. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that swfupload was commonly deployed across numerous WordPress installations, making this vulnerability a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that it operates at the application level, requiring no special privileges or access to the underlying server infrastructure, and can be exploited through standard web browser interactions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-4144 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the object injection vulnerability through proper input validation and sanitization measures. System administrators must ensure that all WordPress installations are running patched versions of the swfupload plugin, as the vulnerability was resolved through code modifications that properly validate and sanitize user input before object instantiation. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious upload parameters, disabling unnecessary file upload functionality where possible, and conducting thorough security audits of all installed plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process should also incorporate regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning to detect potential exploitation attempts, with monitoring systems configured to alert administrators of unusual upload activities that may indicate attempted exploitation of this or similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls for file upload operations and maintaining detailed audit logs of all file upload activities for forensic analysis purposes.