CVE-2024-12875 in Easy Digital Downloads Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/21/2024
The Easy Digital Downloads – eCommerce Payments and Subscriptions made easy plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Directory Traversal in all versions up to, and including, 3.3.2 via the file download functionality. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Administrator-level access and above, to read the contents of arbitrary files on the server, which can contain sensitive information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-12875 affects the Easy Digital Downloads plugin for WordPress, a widely used e-commerce solution that facilitates digital product sales and subscription management. This directory traversal flaw exists within the plugin's file download functionality and impacts all versions up to and including 3.3.2, representing a critical security weakness that can be exploited by attackers with administrative privileges. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the file handling mechanisms, allowing malicious actors to manipulate file path parameters and access unauthorized system resources.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through authenticated attack vectors where administrators or users with equivalent privileges can leverage the directory traversal functionality to read arbitrary files on the compromised server. This flaw enables attackers to bypass normal access controls and potentially obtain sensitive data such as configuration files, database credentials, user information, and other confidential system resources. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-22 - Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, which is classified as a directory traversal or path traversal attack. Such attacks fall under the ATT&CK technique T1078 - Valid Accounts, as they require authenticated access with administrative privileges to exploit the vulnerability effectively.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for organizations using the affected plugin, as it creates a potential pathway for data exfiltration and system compromise. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain access to sensitive information that may include database connection strings, API keys, encryption keys, and other critical system configurations. The vulnerability also poses risks to business continuity and regulatory compliance, particularly in environments where data protection regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI-DSS are applicable. Organizations may face significant financial and reputational damage if sensitive customer data or proprietary information is accessed through this vector.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-12875 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the directory traversal vulnerability. System administrators should implement the principle of least privilege by ensuring that only essential personnel have administrative access to WordPress installations. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security audits of their WordPress environments, including review of file permissions and access controls. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual file access patterns, and regular security assessments should be performed to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing proper input validation mechanisms in web applications, as outlined in OWASP Top 10 security controls and NIST cybersecurity frameworks for protecting web applications against common attack vectors.