CVE-2015-6668 in Job Manager Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The Job Manager plugin before 0.7.25 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary CV files via a brute force attack to the WordPress upload directory structure, related to an insecure direct object reference.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6668 affects the Job Manager plugin for WordPress prior to version 0.7.25 and represents a critical insecure direct object reference flaw that enables remote attackers to access sensitive CV files through systematic brute force enumeration of the WordPress upload directory structure. This vulnerability stems from inadequate access control mechanisms within the plugin's file retrieval functionality, where user input directly influences file system paths without proper validation or authorization checks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the predictable nature of WordPress upload directory structures, where files are typically stored in predictable paths such as wp-content/uploads/year/month/filename.ext. Attackers can systematically iterate through potential file names and extensions to discover and retrieve CV files that have been uploaded to the WordPress media library. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's handling of file access requests, where the application fails to verify whether the requesting user has legitimate authorization to access the requested file, creating an unrestricted access point to sensitive documents.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on WordPress-based job management systems, as it allows unauthorized access to confidential candidate information including resumes, personal details, and professional backgrounds. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure, potentially enabling identity theft, social engineering attacks, and violation of data protection regulations such as gdpr and ccpa. The brute force nature of the attack means that even modest computational resources can be leveraged to systematically harvest sensitive information from vulnerable systems.
The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-284, which describes insecure direct object references where applications fail to properly verify access permissions before allowing direct access to objects such as files, database records, or other resources. This weakness creates a pathway for attackers to bypass normal access controls and directly access resources they should not be permitted to access. Additionally, the vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002, which involves data from information repositories, specifically targeting the exploitation of insecure file access mechanisms to retrieve sensitive data from web applications.
Organizations should immediately update to Job Manager plugin version 0.7.25 or later, which implements proper access control checks and authentication verification before allowing file retrieval operations. System administrators should also implement additional security measures including restricting access to upload directories through web server configuration, implementing rate limiting to prevent brute force attacks, and conducting regular security audits of file access mechanisms. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious file access patterns and unauthorized data retrieval attempts. The remediation process should also include reviewing and tightening access controls for all plugin components that handle file operations, ensuring that proper user authentication and authorization checks are implemented for all file access requests.