CVE-2013-4340 in WordPress
Summary
by MITRE
wp-admin/includes/post.php in WordPress before 3.6.1 allows remote authenticated users to spoof the authorship of a post by leveraging the Author role and providing a modified user_ID parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4340 represents a critical authorization bypass flaw within the WordPress content management system affecting versions prior to 3.6.1. This security weakness resides in the wp-admin/includes/post.php file and specifically targets the handling of post authorship information. The vulnerability enables authenticated users with the Author role to manipulate the user_ID parameter and subsequently spoof the authorship of posts, effectively allowing them to claim ownership of content they did not create. This flaw fundamentally undermines the integrity of WordPress's user permission system and content attribution mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and authorization checks within the post creation and modification processes. When an authenticated user with the Author role submits a post or modifies existing content, the system fails to properly verify that the user_ID parameter corresponds to the currently authenticated user. This oversight creates a pathway for malicious actors to alter the authorship metadata by simply modifying the user_ID parameter in their requests. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within the administrative interface where users expect proper authorization controls to be enforced. The flaw aligns with CWE-285 which describes improper authorization conditions in software systems, and it demonstrates how insufficient validation of user inputs can lead to privilege escalation and data integrity compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-4340 extends beyond simple authorship spoofing and can significantly affect content management integrity, user trust, and system security posture. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can potentially manipulate content attribution to hide their activities, claim credit for others' work, or create false narratives within WordPress installations. This capability becomes particularly dangerous in collaborative environments where content ownership and attribution are critical for maintaining accountability and transparency. The vulnerability affects WordPress installations that rely on proper authorship tracking for moderation, licensing, or compliance purposes. From an adversarial perspective, this flaw can be leveraged as part of broader attack strategies to establish persistence, confuse forensic investigations, or undermine the credibility of legitimate content creators. The vulnerability also has implications for WordPress security frameworks and demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and authorization enforcement in web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-4340 should prioritize immediate patching of affected WordPress installations to version 3.6.1 or later, which includes the necessary fixes for this authorization bypass vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring of administrative activities and content modifications to detect unauthorized authorship changes. Network segmentation and proper access controls should be enforced to limit the scope of potential exploitation, ensuring that users with Author roles cannot manipulate metadata beyond their legitimate permissions. Security teams should also conduct regular audits of user permissions and content management practices to identify potential abuse patterns. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation and authorization checks in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing automated security scanning tools that can detect similar authorization bypass patterns in custom WordPress themes and plugins that may be vulnerable to similar issues. Regular security assessments and vulnerability management programs should include specific checks for parameter manipulation and authorization enforcement mechanisms to prevent similar issues from emerging in the future.