CVE-2015-9464 in s3bubble-amazon-s3-html-5-video-with-adverts Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The s3bubble-amazon-s3-html-5-video-with-adverts plugin 0.7 for WordPress has directory traversal via the adverts/assets/plugins/ultimate/content/downloader.php path parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2020
The s3bubble-amazon-s3-html-5-video-with-adverts plugin version 0.7 for WordPress contains a critical directory traversal vulnerability that allows unauthorized access to sensitive files on the server. This vulnerability exists within the adverts/assets/plugins/ultimate/content/downloader.php script where the path parameter is not properly sanitized or validated before being used to construct file paths. The flaw enables attackers to manipulate the path parameter to access files outside the intended directory structure, potentially exposing confidential data, configuration files, or system resources. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The vulnerability represents a significant security risk as it can be exploited to retrieve arbitrary files from the web server filesystem, including WordPress configuration files, database credentials, and other sensitive information that could lead to complete system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when user-supplied input from the path parameter is directly incorporated into file operations without adequate validation or sanitization. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious requests that include directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ to navigate beyond the intended directory boundaries. When the downloader.php script processes these requests, it fails to validate the input properly, allowing the attacker to specify arbitrary file paths. This creates an opportunity for unauthorized file access and potential data exfiltration. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the file system level, meaning that successful exploitation could lead to access to WordPress core files, plugin files, theme files, and potentially database configuration details. The attack surface is further expanded due to the nature of WordPress plugins, which often have access to sensitive system resources and user data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file access and can lead to complete system compromise when combined with other exploitation techniques. An attacker who successfully exploits this directory traversal vulnerability can potentially access WordPress wp-config.php files containing database credentials, plugin and theme files that might contain additional vulnerabilities, and user data stored in the database. The exposure of such sensitive information could lead to unauthorized access to user accounts, data breaches, and potential lateral movement within the network. Additionally, the presence of this vulnerability indicates poor input validation practices within the plugin, suggesting that other components of the plugin might also be susceptible to similar attacks. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving directory traversal and credential access, potentially enabling privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms. The impact is particularly severe in environments where multiple plugins are installed, as this vulnerability could be used as a stepping stone for further attacks against other vulnerable components.
Mitigation strategies for this directory traversal vulnerability should include immediate patching of the affected plugin to version 0.8 or later, which contains proper input validation and sanitization measures. Organizations should implement proper input validation by using allowlists of acceptable characters and paths, implementing proper path normalization, and ensuring that all user-supplied input is validated before being used in file operations. The recommended approach involves implementing strict access controls that limit file system access to only intended directories and implementing proper error handling that does not reveal internal file system information. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their WordPress installations, including plugin and theme reviews, to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping all WordPress components updated and following security best practices such as implementing least privilege access, regular security audits, and maintaining comprehensive backup strategies to recover from potential compromise scenarios.