CVE-2015-5715 in WordPress
Summary
by MITRE
The mw_editPost function in wp-includes/class-wp-xmlrpc-server.php in the XMLRPC subsystem in WordPress before 4.3.1 allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended access restrictions, and arrange for a private post to be published and sticky, via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5715 represents a critical access control flaw within WordPress's XML-RPC subsystem that affects versions prior to 4.3.1. This issue resides in the mw_editPost function located within the wp-includes/class-wp-xmlrpc-server.php file, which is part of WordPress's core XML-RPC implementation designed to enable external applications to interact with the WordPress platform. The flaw allows authenticated attackers to manipulate post publication status and sticky settings despite having restricted permissions, effectively bypassing intended security controls that should prevent such actions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and authorization checks within the XML-RPC interface. When an authenticated user attempts to edit a post through the XML-RPC API, the mw_editPost function fails to properly verify whether the user has the necessary permissions to publish or sticky a private post. This oversight creates a privilege escalation path where attackers can modify post properties that should be restricted to administrators or users with elevated privileges. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that the vulnerability could be exploited through various XML-RPC method calls that interact with post editing functionality, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate post status, publication dates, and sticky attributes without proper authorization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables authenticated attackers to publish private content that was intended to remain confidential, potentially exposing sensitive information to the public. Additionally, the ability to make posts sticky provides attackers with persistent visibility for their malicious content, ensuring that compromised posts remain prominently displayed on the website's front page. This vulnerability particularly affects websites that rely heavily on private posts for internal communications, draft content, or sensitive data that should not be publicly accessible. The exploitation of this flaw could result in information disclosure, reputational damage, and potential regulatory compliance violations depending on the nature of the exposed content.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately update to WordPress version 4.3.1 or later, which includes the necessary patches to address the access control bypass issue. Security administrators should also review user permissions and implement additional monitoring of XML-RPC API usage to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control, and maps to attack techniques in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation and defense evasion categories. System administrators should consider implementing network-level restrictions on XML-RPC access and regularly audit user accounts to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to the XML-RPC interface. Additionally, organizations should conduct security assessments to identify any other potential access control vulnerabilities within their WordPress installations and related systems.