CVE-2014-5187 in Tom-m8te Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the Tom M8te (tom-m8te) plugin 1.5.3 for WordPress allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via the file parameter to tom-download-file.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/05/2018
The CVE-2014-5187 vulnerability represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Tom M8te plugin version 1.5.3 for WordPress systems. This vulnerability specifically affects the tom-download-file.php script which processes file parameters without proper input validation or sanitization. The flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate the file parameter to access arbitrary files on the web server filesystem, potentially leading to sensitive data exposure and system compromise.
This directory traversal vulnerability falls under the CWE-22 category, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input in the file parameter, allowing attackers to craft malicious requests that can traverse directory structures using sequences such as ../ or ..\ to access files outside the intended download directory. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it operates over HTTP requests, making it easily exploitable from remote locations without requiring authentication or privileged access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file access, as it can potentially expose sensitive system information including configuration files, database credentials, user lists, and other critical data stored on the WordPress server. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain insights into the server environment, identify other potential attack vectors, and potentially escalate privileges. The vulnerability affects WordPress installations where the Tom M8te plugin is actively deployed and can be exploited by any remote user who knows the target system's file structure or can guess file paths.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically under the technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing with Malicious Attachments) where such path traversal vulnerabilities can be used to enumerate system files and gain access to sensitive data. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in input validation and access control mechanisms that should be implemented at multiple layers of the application stack. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including plugin updates, input validation patches, and web application firewall rules to prevent exploitation. The recommended approach involves implementing proper parameter validation, using allowlists for acceptable file paths, and ensuring that all user-supplied input is properly sanitized before being processed by the application.