CVE-2014-10076 in wp-db-backup Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The wp-db-backup plugin 2.2.4 for WordPress relies on a five-character string for access control, which makes it easier for remote attackers to read backup archives via a brute-force attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2020
The wp-db-backup plugin version 2.2.4 for WordPress presents a significant security vulnerability through its weak access control mechanism that relies on a five-character string for protecting backup archives. This flaw represents a critical weakness in the plugin's design that directly violates fundamental security principles for protecting sensitive data. The vulnerability stems from the use of insufficient entropy in the access control mechanism, creating a predictable and easily guessable protection scheme that adversaries can exploit through automated brute-force attacks.
This vulnerability falls under the category of weak cryptographic randomness and insufficient access control as defined by CWE-330 and CWE-287 respectively. The five-character string provides minimal entropy, making it computationally feasible for attackers to enumerate all possible combinations through automated tools. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it allows remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to database backup files without requiring any special privileges or credentials beyond basic network access. The plugin's failure to implement proper authentication mechanisms creates an attack surface that directly violates security best practices outlined in industry standards such as those recommended by the Open Web Application Security Project.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized data access, as database backups often contain sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and business-critical information. When attackers successfully brute-force the five-character access control string, they can obtain complete database snapshots that may include confidential customer information, internal communications, and other sensitive data. This exposure creates potential for data breaches, identity theft, and compliance violations that can result in significant financial and reputational damage to organizations using vulnerable WordPress installations. The vulnerability also enables attackers to potentially escalate their privileges within the affected systems by analyzing the backup data for additional attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through plugin updates to versions that implement proper access control mechanisms with sufficient entropy. Organizations should also implement network-level protections such as firewall rules to restrict access to backup files and consider implementing additional authentication layers for database access. The implementation of strong password policies and multi-factor authentication for administrative access should be enforced, along with regular security audits to identify other potential vulnerabilities in the WordPress ecosystem. Security monitoring should include detection of brute-force attempts against backup access controls, and organizations should establish incident response procedures to address potential compromise of backup data. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper entropy in security mechanisms and the necessity of following established security frameworks such as those defined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO/IEC 27001 standards.