CVE-2016-15004 in InfiniteWP Client Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/23/2022
A vulnerability was found in InfiniteWP Client Plugin 1.5.1.3/1.6.0. It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality. The manipulation leads to injection. The attack can be launched remotely. Upgrading to version 1.6.1.1 is able to address this issue. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/04/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-15004 affects the InfiniteWP Client Plugin version 1.5.1.3 and 1.6.0, representing a critical security flaw that exposes unknown functionality to injection attacks. This plugin serves as a client interface for managing multiple wordpress sites from a single dashboard, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise multiple wordpress installations simultaneously. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the plugin's codebase, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can inject arbitrary code or commands through improperly validated user inputs. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not require local access to the target system, allowing them to leverage this vulnerability from outside the network perimeter. This represents a significant risk to wordpress administrators who rely on InfiniteWP for centralized site management, as successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to all managed websites. The vulnerability's classification as critical indicates the potential for severe impact including data breaches, unauthorized code execution, and full system control by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this injection vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize user-provided data before processing it within the application's core functionality. Attackers can manipulate input fields or parameters that are subsequently used in dynamic code execution contexts, leading to code injection attacks that may allow for arbitrary command execution on the target server. This flaw aligns with common software security weaknesses documented in CWE-74, which addresses injection flaws where untrusted data is sent to an interpreter as part of a command or query. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal prerequisites and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple wordpress sites are managed through a single InfiniteWP instance. The attack vector operates through the plugin's remote management interface, where legitimate administrative functions are exposed to network access, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious payloads that can execute with the privileges of the affected wordpress installation.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-15004 extends beyond individual site compromise to potentially affect entire wordpress networks managed through the InfiniteWP platform. Successful exploitation could result in unauthorized access to sensitive data, modification of website content, installation of backdoors, and use of compromised systems for further attacks against other targets. The vulnerability's presence in widely used plugin versions means that numerous wordpress installations could be at risk, creating a substantial attack surface for threat actors. Organizations relying on InfiniteWP for managing multiple sites face the risk of cascading compromises where a single vulnerable instance can be used as a foothold to attack other connected systems. The remote nature of the attack means that defenders must maintain vigilance against network-based exploitation attempts and implement proper monitoring for suspicious activities related to the plugin's functionality. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping third-party plugins updated, as the issue was resolved in version 1.6.1.1, highlighting the need for proactive security maintenance.
The recommended mitigation strategy centers on immediate upgrading to version 1.6.1.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the injection vulnerability. System administrators should also implement network-based protections including firewall rules that restrict access to the InfiniteWP management interface to trusted IP addresses only, and consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Regular security audits should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other installed plugins and themes. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of following security best practices including keeping all software components updated, implementing proper input validation, and maintaining comprehensive security monitoring. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting controls and privilege separation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Additionally, the incident underscores the value of security awareness training for administrators to recognize and respond to potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the updated plugin to ensure compatibility with existing configurations and workflows. Security teams should also review their incident response procedures to prepare for potential exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in other components of their wordpress infrastructure.