CVE-2016-10927 in nelio-ab-testing Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The nelio-ab-testing plugin before 4.5.11 for WordPress has SSRF in ajax/iesupport.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10927 affects the nelio-ab-testing plugin for WordPress, specifically versions prior to 4.5.11, and represents a server-side request forgery flaw that poses significant security risks to affected systems. This issue is categorized under CWE-918, which defines server-side request forgery as a vulnerability where an attacker can induce the server to make HTTP requests to arbitrary destinations, potentially leading to unauthorized access to internal resources or data exfiltration. The vulnerability exists within the ajax/iesupport.php endpoint of the plugin, making it accessible through the WordPress AJAX interface.
The technical flaw manifests when the plugin processes requests through the ie-support functionality without proper validation of the target URLs or endpoints specified by users. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious requests that manipulate the URL parameters sent to the ajax/iesupport.php script, allowing them to make requests to internal systems that would normally be restricted from external access. This creates a pathway for attackers to potentially access internal services, databases, or other sensitive resources that are not directly exposed to the internet but are accessible from the web server hosting the WordPress installation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable attackers to perform reconnaissance on internal networks, potentially leading to further exploitation opportunities. Attackers might leverage the SSRF vulnerability to scan internal ports, access internal APIs, or even attempt to exploit other vulnerabilities within the internal infrastructure. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that WordPress installations often run on servers with access to various internal resources, making the potential damage from such an attack substantial. The vulnerability affects any system running the affected plugin version, regardless of the hosting environment, and can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring authentication or prior access to the system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the nelio-ab-testing plugin to version 4.5.11 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the SSRF issue. Additionally, administrators should implement network-level restrictions to prevent outbound requests from the web server to internal resources, particularly those that are not essential for the WordPress functionality. Security measures including input validation, URL sanitization, and proper access controls should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other components. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications, and represents a common pattern of insecure parameter handling that can lead to broader compromise of affected systems. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious requests to the affected endpoint to detect potential exploitation attempts.