CVE-2015-5609 in Image Export Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Absolute path traversal vulnerability in the Image Export plugin 1.1 for WordPress allows remote attackers to read and delete arbitrary files via a full pathname in the file parameter to download.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/02/2020
The CVE-2015-5609 vulnerability represents a critical absolute path traversal flaw within the Image Export plugin version 1.1 for WordPress systems. This security weakness resides in the plugin's handling of file parameters within the download.php script, creating an avenue for remote attackers to manipulate file access controls. The vulnerability specifically affects WordPress environments where the Image Export plugin is installed and actively used, making it particularly concerning given WordPress's widespread adoption across web platforms.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves improper input validation within the plugin's file parameter processing mechanism. When a user submits a request containing a full pathname in the file parameter to the download.php endpoint, the application fails to adequately sanitize or validate this input before attempting file operations. This lack of input sanitization allows attackers to construct malicious file paths that bypass normal access restrictions and directory boundaries. The vulnerability operates at the file system level, enabling unauthorized access to files that should remain protected within the application's directory structure.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to WordPress installations as it enables attackers to both read and delete arbitrary files from the affected system. Remote exploitation allows malicious actors to access sensitive data including configuration files, database credentials, user information, and potentially even core WordPress files. The ability to delete files creates additional attack vectors for denial of service scenarios and can be combined with read operations to exfiltrate valuable data. This vulnerability essentially grants attackers elevated privileges within the file system context of the WordPress installation, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The impact of CVE-2015-5609 aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal attacks. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1059, specifically the use of remote services for command execution and file manipulation. The attack surface extends beyond simple file access to include potential privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms, as attackers can leverage the ability to delete files to remove security measures or create backdoors. Organizations running vulnerable WordPress installations face increased risk of data breaches, service disruption, and unauthorized system access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action including plugin updates to versions that address the path traversal flaw, proper input validation implementation, and network-level restrictions on access to plugin endpoints. System administrators should implement file access controls that limit the permissions of the web server process and establish proper directory permissions to prevent unauthorized file access. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should include checks for outdated plugins and themes, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current software versions. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help monitor and block malicious requests targeting known path traversal attack patterns.