CVE-2015-9480 in RobotCPA Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The RobotCPA plugin 5 for WordPress has directory traversal via the f.php l parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-9480 affects the RobotCPA plugin version 5 for WordPress, presenting a critical directory traversal flaw that enables attackers to access arbitrary files on the affected system. This issue stems from insufficient input validation within the plugin's f.php script, specifically in how it handles the l parameter. The vulnerability allows unauthorized users to manipulate file paths and potentially retrieve sensitive information from the server's file system, including configuration files, user data, and other critical resources that should remain protected from public access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the plugin's failure to properly sanitize user input passed through the l parameter in the f.php file. When an attacker submits a malicious value to this parameter, the application processes the input without adequate validation or filtering mechanisms, allowing path traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ to be interpreted by the file system. This flaw directly maps to CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as directory traversal or path traversal attacks. The vulnerability enables an attacker to navigate through the file system hierarchy and access files outside the intended directory structure, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WordPress installations using the affected RobotCPA plugin version 5. Attackers can exploit this weakness to access sensitive configuration files that may contain database credentials, API keys, and other authentication tokens. The impact extends beyond mere information disclosure, as successful exploitation could lead to privilege escalation, remote code execution, or complete system takeover. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that WordPress remains one of the most widely used content management systems, making installations vulnerable to this type of exploitation. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers directory and file permissions enumeration, and T1566, which covers credential access through various attack vectors including file system exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-9480 should prioritize immediate patching of the RobotCPA plugin to version 5.1 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement input validation measures at the web application level, ensuring that all user-supplied parameters undergo strict sanitization before being processed. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth by blocking suspicious path traversal attempts. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues across the entire application stack. System administrators should also monitor file access logs for unusual patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and implement proper file system permissions to limit access to sensitive resources even if path traversal attacks succeed. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and proper access controls in preventing privilege escalation attacks that can compromise entire web applications and their underlying infrastructure.