CVE-2017-18605 in gravitate-qa-tracker Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The gravitate-qa-tracker plugin through 1.2.1 for WordPress has PHP Object Injection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2023
The CVE-2017-18605 vulnerability represents a critical PHP Object Injection flaw discovered in the gravitate-qa-tracker plugin version 1.2.1 and earlier for WordPress. This vulnerability resides within the plugin's handling of user-supplied data that is serialized and subsequently unserialized without proper sanitization or validation. The issue manifests when the plugin processes input parameters that are expected to be simple strings or integers but instead receive serialized PHP objects containing malicious code. When these serialized objects are processed through the unserialize() function, they execute arbitrary PHP code on the target WordPress installation, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a well-established pattern that aligns with CWE-502, which specifically addresses "Deserialization of Untrusted Data" as a critical security weakness. Attackers can craft malicious serialized objects that, when processed by the vulnerable plugin, trigger code execution on the web server. This type of injection attack leverages the inherent dangers of PHP's unserialize() function, which can execute magic methods such as __wakeup() and __destruct() when deserializing objects. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in WordPress environments because the gravitate-qa-tracker plugin likely processes user input through various endpoints, including admin interfaces or AJAX handlers, providing multiple attack vectors for exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass full system compromise and potential data breaches. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain administrative access to the WordPress site, allowing them to modify content, install backdoors, steal user credentials, or exfiltrate sensitive data. The attack surface is particularly concerning because WordPress plugins often have elevated privileges and access to database operations, meaning that successful exploitation could lead to database compromise and lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability also enables persistent access through the installation of malicious files or modification of existing WordPress core files, making detection and remediation more challenging.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability require immediate plugin updates to version 1.2.2 or later, which would contain proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation that prevents serialized data from being processed in contexts where it could be exploited. The recommended approach includes using strict type checking, implementing proper sanitization routines, and avoiding direct use of unserialize() with untrusted input. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious serialization patterns can provide additional defense layers. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for PHP-based code execution and T1566 for the initial compromise through web application vulnerabilities, making it a critical target for both preventive and detective security controls.