CVE-2015-10136 in GI-Media Library Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/19/2025
The GI-Media Library plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Directory Traversal in versions before 3.0 via the 'fileid' parameter. This allows unauthenticated attackers to read the contents of arbitrary files on the server, which can contain sensitive information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-10136 affects the GI-Media Library plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions prior to 3.0. This directory traversal flaw represents a critical security weakness that fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of WordPress installations. The vulnerability exists within the plugin's handling of the 'fileid' parameter, which fails to properly validate or sanitize user input before processing file operations. Attackers can exploit this weakness by manipulating the fileid parameter to traverse directory structures and access files that should remain protected, including configuration files, database credentials, and other sensitive data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. This type of vulnerability occurs when applications fail to properly validate file paths, allowing attackers to manipulate input parameters to access files outside of intended directories. In the context of WordPress plugins, this flaw enables attackers to bypass normal access controls and retrieve arbitrary files from the web server's file system. The unauthenticated nature of this vulnerability means that any remote user can exploit it without requiring valid credentials, significantly increasing the attack surface and potential impact.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-10136 extends far beyond simple information disclosure, as attackers can access critical system files that may contain database connection strings, administrative credentials, plugin configurations, and other sensitive information. This vulnerability can lead to complete system compromise when combined with other attack vectors, as the leaked information can be used to further exploit the WordPress installation or gain deeper access to the underlying server infrastructure. The implications are particularly severe for WordPress installations that host sensitive data or serve as part of larger enterprise environments where unauthorized access to file system contents can result in data breaches, service disruption, and compliance violations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate plugin updates to version 3.0 or later, where the directory traversal issue has been addressed through proper input validation and sanitization of the fileid parameter. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all WordPress plugins and themes remain current with security updates. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious directory traversal patterns, restricting file system permissions to minimize the impact of potential exploitation, and conducting regular security audits of installed plugins to identify other potential vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1083, File and Directory Discovery, as attackers can use such flaws to enumerate system resources and gather intelligence for further exploitation. Regular security monitoring and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to detect similar weaknesses in other components of the WordPress ecosystem, as directory traversal vulnerabilities often indicate broader security misconfigurations within web applications.