CVE-2018-19487 in WP-jobhunt Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The WP-jobhunt plugin before version 2.4 for WordPress does not control AJAX requests sent to the cs_employer_ajax_profile() function through the admin-ajax.php file, which allows remote unauthenticated attackers to enumerate information about users.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-19487 affects the WP-jobhunt plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions prior to 2.4. This issue resides in the plugin's handling of AJAX requests through the admin-ajax.php endpoint, creating a significant security gap that enables unauthorized information disclosure. The flaw manifests when the cs_employer_ajax_profile() function processes requests without proper authentication or authorization controls, allowing any remote attacker to exploit this weakness without requiring valid credentials or privileged access to the WordPress installation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the plugin's AJAX handler. When attackers send crafted requests to the admin-ajax.php file with parameters targeting the cs_employer_ajax_profile() function, the system fails to verify whether the requester possesses legitimate authorization to access employer profile information. This represents a classic case of inadequate authentication controls, which aligns with CWE-287 - Improper Authentication and can be categorized under the broader ATT&CK technique T1078 - Valid Accounts, as it allows attackers to leverage the system's lack of proper access controls to gather sensitive user information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables attackers to perform user enumeration activities that can facilitate more sophisticated attacks. An attacker can systematically query the system to discover valid employer accounts, potentially gathering intelligence about the platform's user base including usernames, profile details, and other sensitive employment-related information. This enumeration capability can serve as a precursor to credential stuffing attacks, social engineering attempts, or other targeted exploitation campaigns. The vulnerability essentially provides a backdoor method for attackers to map out the platform's user landscape without detection, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on the plugin for employment-related services.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the patch provided by the plugin developers in version 2.4 or later, which addresses the authentication gap in the AJAX endpoint handling. Additionally, system administrators should review their WordPress plugin ecosystem for similar vulnerabilities, as this type of flaw is not uncommon in third-party plugins that fail to implement proper access controls for AJAX handlers. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of AJAX requests targeting admin-ajax.php, particularly when these requests appear to be systematically enumerating user information. The implementation of rate limiting and request validation mechanisms at the web server level can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing automated security scanning tools that can identify unauthenticated access points and ensure proper authentication mechanisms are enforced across all plugin endpoints.