CVE-2014-4577 in WP AmASIN - The Amazon Affiliate Shop
Summary
by MITRE
Absolute path traversal vulnerability in reviews.php in the WP AmASIN - The Amazon Affiliate Shop plugin 0.9.6 and earlier for WordPress allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a full pathname in the url parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2018
The CVE-2014-4577 vulnerability represents a critical absolute path traversal flaw within the WP AmASIN plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions 0.9.6 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the reviews.php script which processes user input through the url parameter without adequate validation or sanitization. The flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate file access by supplying full pathnames, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive system files that should remain protected. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly filter or escape user-supplied file paths before processing. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-22 category, which specifically addresses path traversal attacks, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 for file and directory discovery. The security implications extend beyond simple file reading, as successful exploitation could lead to information disclosure, system compromise, or further attack vector exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the lack of proper input validation within the plugin's file handling mechanism. When a user submits a request containing a malicious url parameter with an absolute path, the reviews.php script processes this input directly without verifying whether the requested file path is within the intended scope. This allows attackers to traverse the file system hierarchy and access files that should be restricted, including configuration files, database credentials, or other sensitive system resources. The vulnerability demonstrates poor secure coding practices where user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being used in file system operations. The flaw essentially bypasses normal access controls by leveraging the web application's legitimate file access capabilities to retrieve unauthorized information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends significantly beyond immediate information disclosure, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive data that could be used for further compromise. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to access WordPress configuration files, database connection details, or other plugin-specific files that might contain authentication tokens or credentials. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for more sophisticated attacks such as code injection or privilege escalation, particularly if the attacker can access system files that contain sensitive information. Additionally, the presence of this vulnerability in a widely used plugin like WP AmASIN could affect numerous WordPress installations, potentially allowing attackers to gather intelligence about target systems or to establish persistence within compromised environments. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication and can be executed remotely, making it an attractive target for automated exploitation tools.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4577 should focus on immediate remediation through plugin updates to versions that address the path traversal vulnerability. System administrators should ensure that all WordPress plugins are kept current with the latest security patches, as this vulnerability was likely addressed in subsequent releases. Implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures within the application code is essential, requiring that all user-supplied parameters be validated against a strict whitelist of acceptable values. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious file path traversal attempts. Additionally, restricting file system permissions and implementing principle of least privilege can help limit the impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security audits and proper secure coding practices, including the implementation of proper input validation, output encoding, and secure file handling procedures that align with industry standards such as those recommended by OWASP and NIST.