CVE-2019-15648 in insert-or-embed-articulate-content-into-wordpress Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The insert-or-embed-articulate-content-into-wordpress plugin before 4.29991 for WordPress has insufficient restrictions on deleting or renaming by a Subscriber.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-15648 affects the insert-or-embed-articulate-content-into-wordpress plugin for WordPress versions prior to 4.29991. This issue represents a critical access control flaw that undermines the security model of WordPress installations. The plugin's inadequate permission controls allow users with the Subscriber role to perform actions that should typically be restricted to higher-privilege users, creating an unauthorized modification vector within the content management system. Such vulnerabilities are particularly concerning as they enable low-privilege users to potentially manipulate the platform's content and functionality in ways that could compromise the entire site's integrity.
The technical flaw stems from improper implementation of WordPress capability checks within the plugin's file management functions. Specifically, the plugin fails to validate whether the requesting user possesses sufficient privileges before allowing file deletion or renaming operations. This oversight creates a privilege escalation vulnerability where a Subscriber user can leverage the plugin's functionality to remove or modify files that should be protected from their access level. The vulnerability exists at the core of WordPress's user role and capability system, where the plugin does not properly integrate with the established permission model that governs user access to various administrative functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file manipulation. A malicious Subscriber user could potentially remove critical plugin files, rename important content files, or delete essential resources that maintain the site's functionality. This could result in complete site disruption, data loss, or create opportunities for further exploitation. The vulnerability also enables attackers to potentially upload malicious files or modify existing ones, which could lead to persistent compromise of the WordPress installation. From a security perspective, this flaw undermines the principle of least privilege and creates a persistent backdoor for unauthorized modifications that could go undetected for extended periods.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention through plugin updates to version 4.29991 or later, which addresses the insufficient permission checks. Administrators should also implement additional security measures including regular security audits of installed plugins, monitoring of file changes, and enforcement of strict user role assignments. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, and represents a specific implementation of the broader ATT&CK technique T1078 for Valid Accounts and T1486 for Data Encrypted for Ransom. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and file integrity monitoring solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Regular security training for administrators on plugin security best practices and proper role management will further reduce the risk of exploitation.