CVE-2018-21005 in bbp-move-topics Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The bbp-move-topics plugin before 1.1.6 for WordPress has code injection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2023
The bbp-move-topics plugin for WordPress contains a critical code injection vulnerability that affects versions prior to 1.1.6, representing a significant security risk for forum administrators and users. This vulnerability resides within the plugin's handling of topic movement operations, where insufficient input validation and sanitization allow malicious actors to inject arbitrary code into the WordPress environment. The flaw specifically manifests when users attempt to move topics between forums, creating an avenue for remote code execution through carefully crafted inputs that bypass standard security mechanisms.
Technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through improper parameter handling within the plugin's core functions, where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into database queries without adequate sanitization. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-94 category of Code Injection, specifically manifesting as a command injection or code injection attack vector. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary PHP code on the affected WordPress installation, potentially leading to full system compromise. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and the absence of proper escaping mechanisms when processing topic movement requests, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user forum environments where administrators may inadvertently process malicious inputs.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code injection, as successful exploitation can result in complete compromise of the WordPress installation, data theft, unauthorized access to user accounts, and potential use as a foothold for further attacks within the network infrastructure. Organizations running affected versions of the bbp-move-topics plugin face significant risk of unauthorized code execution, which could lead to persistent backdoors, data exfiltration, or service disruption. The vulnerability particularly affects WordPress forums that rely heavily on topic management features, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise forum-based communities and their associated user data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the bbp-move-topics plugin to version 1.1.6 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization measures. System administrators should also implement additional security controls such as input filtering, output encoding, and regular security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers can leverage the code injection capability to execute malicious commands. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their WordPress installations to identify other potentially vulnerable plugins and ensure comprehensive patch management processes are in place to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.