CVE-2016-10930 in wp-support-plus-responsive-ticket-system Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The wp-support-plus-responsive-ticket-system plugin before 7.1.0 for WordPress has insecure direct object reference via a ticket number.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2023
The wp-support-plus-responsive-ticket-system plugin for WordPress contains a critical insecure direct object reference vulnerability that allows unauthorized users to access sensitive ticket information. This vulnerability affects versions prior to 7.1.0 and represents a significant security flaw in the plugin's access control mechanisms. The issue stems from the plugin's failure to properly validate user permissions when processing ticket number parameters, creating an opportunity for attackers to manipulate the system through direct object references.
The technical flaw manifests when the plugin processes ticket numbers without implementing proper authentication checks or authorization validation. An attacker can simply modify the ticket number parameter in the URL or API calls to access tickets belonging to other users, bypassing the intended access controls. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-639, which describes Insecure Direct Object Reference, a weakness where applications fail to properly verify that the user has authorization to access specific objects. The flaw occurs because the plugin relies on predictable ticket identifiers rather than implementing proper session-based or token-based access validation mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it allows for potential data breaches and privacy violations within WordPress environments. Attackers can exploit this weakness to view confidential customer support tickets, potentially accessing sensitive personal information, business data, or proprietary communications. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where support ticket systems contain critical business information. The vulnerability also enables enumeration attacks where malicious actors can systematically test ticket numbers to discover valid tickets and access unauthorized information. From an attacker perspective, this represents a low-effort, high-impact vector that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for Data from Information Repositories, as it allows for unauthorized access to stored data.
Organizations using affected versions of the wp-support-plus-responsive-ticket-system plugin should immediately implement the available security patch to remediate this vulnerability. The fix typically involves implementing proper user authentication checks before displaying ticket information, ensuring that users can only access tickets they have created or have explicit authorization to view. Additional mitigations include implementing rate limiting on ticket access requests, logging unauthorized access attempts, and configuring proper network-level access controls to restrict direct access to ticket endpoints. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious ticket number manipulation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper access control implementation in web applications and serves as a reminder of the critical need for thorough security testing of third-party plugins before deployment in production environments.