CVE-2015-1785 in nextgen-gallery Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/07/2022
In nextgen-galery wordpress plugin before 2.0.77.3 there are two vulnerabilities which can allow an attacker to gain full access over the web application. The vulnerabilities lie in how the application validates user uploaded files and lack of security measures preventing unwanted HTTP requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/20/2022
The CVE-2015-1785 vulnerability affects the nextgen-gallery wordpress plugin version prior to 2.0.77.3 and represents a critical security flaw that exposes web applications to full compromise. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the plugin's file upload functionality, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code and gain complete administrative control over affected systems. The flaw manifests through two distinct attack vectors that work in conjunction to undermine the security posture of wordpress installations utilizing this vulnerable plugin.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper validation of user-uploaded files, which allows attackers to bypass security checks designed to prevent malicious content from being stored on the server. This weakness aligns with CWE-434, which describes insecure file upload vulnerabilities where applications fail to properly validate file types, sizes, or content before storing them on the server. Attackers can exploit this by uploading malicious files with extensions that are typically allowed but contain malicious code, or by manipulating file headers to fool the validation system. The vulnerability also encompasses inadequate protection against unauthorized HTTP requests, which creates additional attack surface for privilege escalation and data manipulation.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1785 is severe and far-reaching, as successful exploitation provides attackers with complete administrative access to the compromised wordpress installation. This level of access enables threat actors to modify or delete content, inject malicious code into the website, steal sensitive data, and potentially use the compromised system as a launching point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to complete website defacement, data breaches, and potential compromise of the entire hosting environment. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) and T1078 (Valid Accounts), as it allows attackers to leverage the compromised plugin to establish persistent access and elevate privileges within the application.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1785 primarily focus on immediate remediation through plugin updates to version 2.0.77.3 or later, which contain the necessary security patches to address both file validation and HTTP request handling issues. Additionally, administrators should implement comprehensive file upload restrictions including MIME type validation, file extension filtering, and mandatory file content verification. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, while regular security audits and monitoring of uploaded files should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of keeping all wordpress plugins and themes updated, as outdated components often serve as primary attack vectors for cybercriminals.