CVE-2018-5289 in GD Rating System Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The GD Rating System plugin 2.3 for WordPress has Directory Traversal in the wp-admin/admin.php panel parameter for the gd-rating-system-information page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5289 resides within the GD Rating System plugin version 2.3 for WordPress, representing a critical directory traversal flaw that enables unauthorized access to sensitive system files. This vulnerability specifically affects the wp-admin/admin.php panel where the gd-rating-system-information page parameter is processed without proper input validation, creating an exploitable pathway for malicious actors to access files outside the intended directory structure. The flaw stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input, allowing attackers to manipulate the parameter value to traverse directories and potentially read arbitrary files on the server. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The attack vector exploits the plugin's lack of proper authorization checks and input validation mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged to extract sensitive information such as configuration files, database credentials, and other critical system artifacts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to escalate their privileges and potentially achieve full system compromise. When exploited, the directory traversal vulnerability allows unauthorized users to access files that should remain protected within the WordPress installation directory, including wp-config.php which typically contains database connection details and cryptographic keys. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gather intelligence about the server environment, identify other potentially vulnerable components, and establish persistence mechanisms. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require administrative credentials, making it particularly attractive to threat actors who seek to gain initial access to WordPress installations. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which describes the discovery of system information through directory listing and file enumeration activities. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the WordPress environment, potentially leading to data breaches, unauthorized modifications, and complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5289 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the directory traversal vulnerability, as the vendor has released patches to resolve this issue. System administrators must implement proper input validation and sanitization measures to prevent malicious parameter manipulation, ensuring that all user inputs are properly validated before processing. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block attempts to exploit this vulnerability by monitoring for suspicious directory traversal patterns in HTTP requests. The implementation of principle of least privilege access controls should be enforced, limiting the permissions of the WordPress installation directory to prevent unauthorized file access even if the vulnerability is exploited. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the WordPress ecosystem, with particular attention to plugins that handle file operations and user input. Organizations should also establish robust monitoring procedures to detect unusual file access patterns and unauthorized attempts to enumerate system resources, as these activities often precede more serious attacks. Additionally, maintaining up-to-date backups and implementing proper access controls for administrative panels can significantly reduce the impact of exploitation attempts and provide recovery mechanisms in case of successful compromise.