CVE-2024-13879 in Stream Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/17/2025
The Stream plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Server-Side Request Forgery in all versions up to, and including, 4.0.2 due to insufficient validation on the webhook feature. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with administrator-level access and above, to make web requests to arbitrary locations originating from the web application which can be used to query and modify information from internal services.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/17/2025
The Stream plugin for WordPress represents a comprehensive logging and monitoring solution that tracks user activities, content changes, and system events within WordPress installations. This plugin serves as a critical auditing tool for administrators who need to monitor site activity and maintain security posture. However, a significant vulnerability has been identified in versions up to and including 4.0.2 that fundamentally undermines its security integrity. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the webhook functionality, creating a dangerous pathway for malicious actors who possess administrative privileges.
The technical flaw manifests in the webhook feature's insufficient validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize or restrict the URLs and endpoints that can be specified for webhook delivery. When administrators configure webhook notifications within the Stream plugin, the system accepts user-provided input without adequate filtering or verification of destination addresses. This vulnerability enables authenticated attackers with administrator-level access to craft malicious webhook configurations that can initiate outbound requests to arbitrary internal or external systems. The flaw operates at the server-side request forgery level, allowing attackers to leverage the web application's own network connections and credentials to make requests that would otherwise be blocked by firewalls or access controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data exfiltration, as it provides attackers with the ability to interact with internal services that may be otherwise protected from external access. An attacker can use this vulnerability to query internal databases, manipulate backend services, or even attempt to escalate privileges within the internal network infrastructure. The attack vector becomes particularly dangerous because the requests originate from the legitimate web application server, making them appear as authorized traffic from within the trusted network perimeter. This characteristic significantly reduces the likelihood of detection by network monitoring systems that typically focus on external threats rather than internal server-to-server communications.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a classic server-side request forgery scenario that aligns with common attack patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under the technique of server-side request forgery. The CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) classification for this vulnerability would fall under CWE-918, which specifically addresses server-side request forgery vulnerabilities that enable attackers to make arbitrary requests from the server. Organizations running affected Stream plugin versions face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where internal services are not properly segmented or where the web application server has elevated privileges within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability essentially transforms the WordPress application server into a potential attack platform for internal network reconnaissance and exploitation.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the validation flaw, while administrators should also implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include restricting the ability to configure webhooks to only the most trusted administrative users, implementing strict outbound firewall rules, and monitoring for unusual outbound network connections from the web server. Regular security auditing of plugin configurations and maintaining up-to-date security practices remain essential for preventing exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in other components of the WordPress ecosystem.