CVE-2016-10972 in newspaper Theme
Summary
by MITRE
The newspaper theme before 6.7.2 for WordPress has a lack of options access control via td_ajax_update_panel.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10972 affects the newspaper theme for WordPress versions prior to 6.7.2, specifically targeting the td_ajax_update_panel functionality. This represents a critical access control flaw that undermines the security posture of affected WordPress installations. The issue stems from insufficient validation and authorization checks within the theme's AJAX handling mechanism, allowing unauthorized users to access administrative functions that should be restricted to authenticated administrators.
The technical flaw manifests through the td_ajax_update_panel endpoint which fails to properly verify user permissions before executing administrative operations. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-284 access control weakness category, specifically addressing insufficient access control mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious AJAX requests that bypass normal authentication checks, potentially gaining access to theme customization panels, content management features, and other administrative functions typically restricted to authorized users. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be classified under ATT&CK technique T1078 legitimate credentials, as it allows unauthorized access through legitimate theme functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with substantial control over the affected WordPress site. Once exploited, unauthorized users can modify theme settings, potentially introducing malicious code, altering content, or manipulating the site's appearance to facilitate further attacks. The vulnerability affects the core WordPress theme functionality and can lead to complete site compromise, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within networks where WordPress installations are deployed. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages legitimate theme functionality to bypass security controls, making detection more challenging for security monitoring systems.
Organizations should immediately update to newspaper theme version 6.7.2 or later to remediate this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper input validation, authentication checks, and access control mechanisms within AJAX endpoints can help prevent similar issues. Security measures such as web application firewalls, regular security audits, and monitoring for unauthorized AJAX requests should be implemented as part of a comprehensive defense strategy. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper access control implementation in theme and plugin code, particularly for AJAX-based administrative functions that handle sensitive operations.