CVE-2018-0586 in Ultimate Member Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the shortcodes function of Ultimate Member plugin prior to version 2.0.4 for WordPress allows remote authenticated attackers to read arbitrary files via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/05/2020
The CVE-2018-0586 vulnerability represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Ultimate Member WordPress plugin ecosystem, affecting versions prior to 2.0.4. This vulnerability specifically targets the shortcodes functionality that forms a core component of the plugin's user management and profile handling capabilities. The flaw enables authenticated attackers to exploit improper input validation mechanisms, allowing them to manipulate file access paths and potentially read sensitive files from the server filesystem. The vulnerability resides in how the plugin processes shortcode parameters, creating an opportunity for attackers to bypass normal file access controls through crafted input sequences that traverse directory structures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-provided input within the shortcode processing pipeline. When legitimate users interact with Ultimate Member's shortcode functions, the plugin fails to properly validate or sanitize the parameters passed to file handling routines. This allows attackers to inject malicious path traversal sequences such as ../ or ../../ that can navigate outside the intended directory boundaries. The vulnerability operates at the application level rather than at the network protocol level, making it particularly dangerous as it requires only authenticated access to exploit. Attackers can leverage this weakness to access configuration files, database credentials, plugin files, and potentially other sensitive data stored on the web server. The issue is classified under CWE-22 as a directory traversal vulnerability, which directly maps to the attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of "Path Traversal" within the privilege escalation and persistence categories.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-0586 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can provide attackers with access to critical system resources that may lead to further compromise. An authenticated attacker with access to a user account on the WordPress site can exploit this vulnerability to read arbitrary files, potentially gaining access to wp-config.php containing database credentials, plugin source code revealing additional vulnerabilities, or other sensitive configuration files. This access can facilitate more sophisticated attacks including privilege escalation, data exfiltration, and potentially full system compromise. The vulnerability affects WordPress installations running the Ultimate Member plugin with vulnerable versions, creating a persistent threat vector that remains active until the plugin is updated to version 2.0.4 or later. Organizations running affected systems face risks of unauthorized data access and potential compliance violations due to exposure of sensitive information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-0586 primarily focus on immediate remediation through plugin updates to version 2.0.4 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the directory traversal vulnerability. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all WordPress plugins and themes remain current with security updates. Additional protective measures include implementing proper input validation and sanitization practices within custom code, configuring web server restrictions to limit file access permissions, and establishing network monitoring to detect unusual file access patterns. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious path traversal attempts, while maintaining regular security audits of installed plugins to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework suggests implementing defense-in-depth strategies including principle of least privilege access controls and regular security assessments to reduce the attack surface and mitigate the impact of such vulnerabilities.