CVE-2024-6569 in Campaign Monitor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/27/2024
The Campaign Monitor for WordPress plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Full Path Disclosure in all versions up to, and including, 2.8.15. This is due the plugin not properly restricting direct access to /forms/views/admin/create.php and display_errors being enabled. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to retrieve the full path of the web application, which can be used to aid other attacks. The information displayed is not useful on its own, and requires another vulnerability to be present for damage to an affected website.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2024
The Campaign Monitor for WordPress plugin presents a significant security weakness classified as Full Path Disclosure vulnerability affecting versions up to and including 2.8.15. This flaw stems from inadequate access controls that permit direct access to the sensitive file path /forms/views/admin/create.php without proper authentication or authorization checks. The vulnerability becomes exploitable when the WordPress environment has display_errors PHP configuration enabled, which allows the server to reveal detailed error information including absolute file paths to remote attackers. This type of information disclosure represents a critical concern in cybersecurity as it provides attackers with precise knowledge of the server's file structure and directory hierarchy.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through direct HTTP requests to the vulnerable endpoint, bypassing normal plugin access controls and authentication mechanisms. When an unauthenticated attacker accesses the create.php file directly, the server responds with error messages that contain the complete absolute path to the WordPress installation directory. This information can be leveraged by threat actors to understand the underlying server configuration and potentially identify other vulnerabilities within the system. The vulnerability operates under CWE-209, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure Through an Error Message," and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212 for "Exploitation for Credential Access" where such path information can aid in subsequent attacks. The disclosure of full paths creates a dangerous foundation for further exploitation as it provides attackers with precise knowledge of file locations that could be used to craft more targeted attacks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability significantly increases the attack surface for WordPress installations using the affected plugin. While the information disclosure itself does not directly compromise the system, it provides crucial reconnaissance data that makes subsequent attacks more effective. The full path information can be used to identify potential file inclusion vulnerabilities, understand directory permissions, and plan more sophisticated attacks such as local file inclusion or remote code execution attempts. The vulnerability requires minimal effort to exploit and can be automated through various scanning tools, making it particularly dangerous in environments where automated attacks are common. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability creates a dangerous reconnaissance environment where attackers can gather systematic information about the target system's configuration and structure, which can be combined with other vulnerabilities to achieve complete system compromise.
The recommended mitigation strategies include immediate plugin updates to versions that address this vulnerability, ensuring that display_errors is disabled in production environments, and implementing proper access controls for all plugin files. Administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block direct access attempts to sensitive plugin endpoints. Additional protective measures include regular security audits of WordPress installations, monitoring for unauthorized file access patterns, and maintaining up-to-date security configurations that prevent information leakage. Organizations should also implement principle of least privilege access controls and ensure that all plugin files are properly protected against direct web access. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in web applications, particularly in content management systems where plugins may introduce additional attack vectors.