CVE-2023-51419 in Your AI Co-Pilot Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/29/2023
Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type vulnerability in Bertha.Ai BERTHA AI. Your AI co-pilot for WordPress and Chrome.This issue affects BERTHA AI. Your AI co-pilot for WordPress and Chrome: from n/a through 1.11.10.7.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2023-51419 represents a critical unrestricted file upload flaw in the Bertha.Ai BERTHA AI plugin for WordPress and Chrome, classified under CWE-434 Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type. This security weakness allows authenticated attackers with sufficient privileges to upload malicious files to the target system without proper validation or sanitization. The vulnerability exists within the file upload functionality of the plugin, which fails to adequately verify file types, extensions, or content, creating an avenue for attackers to bypass security controls and execute arbitrary code on the affected WordPress installation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the plugin's upload handler. When users upload files through the Bertha.Ai interface, the system does not properly filter or validate the file types being submitted, allowing attackers to upload files with dangerous extensions such as .php, .asp, .jsp, or other executable formats. This flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited through the WordPress admin interface or API endpoints that support file uploads. The vulnerability affects all versions of the plugin from the initial release through version 1.11.10.7, indicating a prolonged period during which the security gap remained unaddressed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with potential persistence mechanisms and privilege escalation opportunities within the WordPress environment. Once an attacker successfully uploads a malicious file, they can leverage it for various malicious activities including but not limited to web shell deployment, data exfiltration, or establishing backdoor access to the compromised system. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1505.003 Exploitation for Persistence, where adversaries use uploaded files to maintain long-term access to compromised systems. Additionally, this vulnerability can enable further exploitation through techniques such as T1078 Valid Accounts for privilege escalation and T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application for initial access and lateral movement within the network.
Organizations using the Bertha.Ai plugin must immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest available version where the vulnerability has been patched, implementing strict file type validation, and configuring proper file upload restrictions. The recommended remediation approach involves applying the vendor-provided security patches, configuring web server-level restrictions to prevent execution of uploaded files, and implementing comprehensive monitoring of file upload activities. Security teams should also consider implementing network-based detection measures to identify suspicious file upload patterns and establish proper access controls to limit who can upload files to the system. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and secure file handling practices in web applications, particularly those operating within content management systems where user-uploaded content can significantly impact system security posture.