CVE-2022-1398 in External Media without Import Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/16/2022
The External Media without Import WordPress plugin through 1.1.2 does not have any authorisation and does to ensure that medias added via URLs are external medias, which could allow any authenticated users, such as subscriber to perform blind SSRF attacks
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/18/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1398 affects the External Media without Import WordPress plugin version 1.1.2 and earlier, presenting a critical security flaw that undermines the plugin's authorization mechanisms. This issue arises from the plugin's failure to properly validate and restrict access to media import functionality, creating a pathway for authenticated users to exploit blind server-side request forgery attacks. The vulnerability stems from the plugin's design where it accepts external media URLs without proper authentication checks, allowing any user with subscriber-level privileges to initiate requests to internal or external systems.
The technical flaw manifests through the plugin's lack of authorization controls when processing external media URLs, specifically enabling blind SSRF (Server-Side Request Forgery) capabilities. This occurs because the plugin does not verify whether the media being imported originates from external sources, nor does it implement proper access controls to restrict who can initiate such import operations. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, where the plugin accepts user-provided URLs and attempts to fetch media content, without implementing adequate validation or access restriction measures. This design flaw allows authenticated users to craft malicious requests that can potentially access internal network resources or perform reconnaissance activities against backend systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables low-privilege users to perform unauthorized actions that could compromise network security and data integrity. Subscribers, who typically have minimal permissions within WordPress environments, can exploit this flaw to conduct blind SSRF attacks that may reveal internal system information, access internal services, or potentially facilitate further exploitation. The blind nature of the SSRF attack means that attackers cannot directly observe the responses from internal systems, but can still use the vulnerability for reconnaissance, service enumeration, or to potentially gain access to sensitive internal resources that are not directly exposed to the internet. This vulnerability essentially provides an attack vector that bypasses normal access control mechanisms within the WordPress environment.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper authorization checks and access controls within the plugin's media import functionality. The most effective approach involves adding strict authentication requirements for all media import operations, ensuring that only administrators or users with appropriate privileges can initiate external media imports. Additionally, implementing URL validation mechanisms that verify the legitimacy of external sources and restricting the plugin's ability to make requests to internal network resources would significantly reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level restrictions that prevent internal systems from making unauthorized requests to internal services. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-863 (Incorrect Authorization) and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) and T1071.1004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) when used for reconnaissance activities. Regular security updates and patch management should be implemented to address this vulnerability promptly, as the plugin's design flaw creates a persistent risk that can be exploited by any authenticated user within the WordPress environment.