CVE-2018-5291 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-tools page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2019
The GD Rating System plugin version 2.3 for WordPress contains a critical directory traversal vulnerability that allows unauthorized users to access arbitrary files on the server through the wp-admin/admin.php panel. This vulnerability specifically affects the gd-rating-system-tools page where the panel parameter is improperly validated, enabling attackers to manipulate file paths and potentially retrieve sensitive information from the web server's file system. The flaw represents a significant security risk as it can be exploited to access configuration files, database credentials, and other sensitive data that should remain protected within the WordPress installation directory structure.
This directory traversal vulnerability falls under the CWE-22 category known as "Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')", which is a well-documented weakness that has been consistently exploited across various web applications and content management systems. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the administrative panel of WordPress, which typically requires authentication but can be exploited by attackers who have gained access to user accounts with sufficient privileges or through other means of privilege escalation. The attack vector leverages the lack of proper input validation and sanitization of the panel parameter, allowing malicious actors to craft requests that traverse directory structures beyond the intended scope of the plugin's functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file disclosure, as it can enable attackers to execute further attacks by accessing core WordPress files, plugin configurations, or even server-side scripts that might contain additional vulnerabilities. An attacker could potentially exploit this weakness to gain access to wp-config.php files, which contain database connection details and cryptographic keys, or to read other sensitive plugin or theme files that might contain hardcoded credentials or other exploitable information. The vulnerability also increases the risk of privilege escalation attacks, as access to administrative functionality combined with directory traversal can provide attackers with deeper system insights and potential paths for further compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the GD Rating System plugin to version 2.3.1 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes to prevent directory traversal attacks. Organizations should also implement proper input validation and sanitization measures at the application level, ensuring that all user-supplied parameters are properly validated before being processed. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth by monitoring for suspicious file path patterns and blocking known malicious requests. Security monitoring should include regular scanning of WordPress installations for outdated plugins and themes, as well as implementing principle of least privilege access controls for administrative accounts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) as attackers can use directory traversal to discover system files and potentially execute commands through compromised administrative access. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other plugins or themes that might be susceptible to the same class of directory traversal attacks.