CVE-2018-7586 in nextgen-gallery Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
In the nextgen-gallery plugin before 2.2.50 for WordPress, gallery paths are not secured.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7586 affects the nextgen-gallery plugin for WordPress, specifically versions prior to 2.2.50, where gallery paths are not properly secured. This represents a critical security flaw that allows unauthorized access to gallery resources and potentially sensitive data stored within the plugin's directory structure. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and path handling mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied parameters used in gallery path construction.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the plugin processes gallery-related requests without sufficient validation of path parameters. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious requests that manipulate gallery path variables to traverse directories or access restricted files within the WordPress installation. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of path traversal attacks, which are commonly classified as CWE-22 - Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory. The flaw allows for arbitrary file access and could potentially lead to information disclosure, remote code execution, or complete system compromise depending on the server configuration and file permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it provides attackers with the ability to access not only gallery media files but potentially sensitive configuration files, database credentials, or other system resources that may be stored in adjacent directories. This vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including direct URL manipulation, parameter injection in API calls, or through crafted gallery shortcode parameters. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that WordPress plugins are often less rigorously secured than core components, and the nextgen-gallery plugin was widely used across numerous WordPress installations.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the patched version 2.2.50 or later, which addresses the path traversal vulnerability through proper input validation and sanitization. Additionally, administrators should review and restrict file permissions on gallery directories, implement web application firewalls to monitor for suspicious path traversal attempts, and conduct comprehensive security audits of all installed plugins. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 - File and Directory Discovery, as attackers can use the flaw to enumerate and access restricted file systems. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular security scanning of their WordPress installations to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins or themes that may not have been properly secured against path manipulation attacks.