CVE-2026-27759 in Featured Image from Content Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/28/2026
Featured Image from Content (featured-image-from-content) WordPress plugin versions prior to 1.7 contain an authenticated server-side request forgery vulnerability that allows Author-level users to fetch internal HTTP resources. Attackers can exploit insecure URL fetching and file write operations to retrieve sensitive internal data and store it in web-accessible upload directories.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2026
The featured-image-from-content wordpress plugin vulnerability represents a critical authenticated server-side request forgery flaw that undermines the security posture of affected installations. This vulnerability specifically impacts versions prior to 1.7 and affects users with author-level privileges, creating a significant risk for wordpress sites that rely on this plugin for content management. The flaw stems from insufficient validation of external URLs and inadequate sanitization of file operations during content processing. According to cwe-918 standards, this vulnerability falls under server-side request forgery where an attacker can manipulate the application into making unintended requests to internal resources. The security implications extend beyond simple data theft as this vulnerability enables attackers to access internal network services that would normally be protected by firewall rules or network segmentation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted requests that leverage the plugin's functionality to fetch content from internal resources. Author-level users can construct malicious URLs that point to internal services such as localhost endpoints, internal apis, or administrative interfaces that are not typically exposed to external traffic. The plugin's insecure implementation allows these requests to bypass normal network restrictions and retrieve sensitive information including configuration files, database credentials, system information, or other internal data that should remain protected. This vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's handling of external content sources and its subsequent file write operations that can store retrieved data in web-accessible directories. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate access controls that permit authenticated users to perform actions beyond their intended permissions. Attackers can chain this vulnerability with other exploitation techniques to escalate privileges or gain deeper access to the underlying system infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond immediate data theft and encompasses potential system compromise and unauthorized access to internal resources. Organizations running affected wordpress installations face significant risks including exposure of internal network topology, credential leakage, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability enables attackers to harvest sensitive data from internal services that may contain user information, system configurations, or other confidential assets. When combined with other exploitation techniques, this vulnerability can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks including privilege escalation, persistent backdoor installation, or further reconnaissance activities. The web-accessible upload directories created by this vulnerability provide attackers with persistent storage for harvested data or malware payloads, making detection and remediation more challenging. The impact is particularly severe for organizations that maintain strict network segmentation policies, as this vulnerability effectively bypasses those security controls through legitimate plugin functionality.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching and implementation of additional security controls. The primary recommendation is to upgrade to version 1.7 or later of the featured-image-from-content plugin where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and secure URL handling. Organizations should also implement network segmentation controls to limit access to internal resources from web applications and establish monitoring for unusual file upload activities in web-accessible directories. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious requests, conducting regular security audits of plugin installations, and establishing principle of least privilege access controls for user accounts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper secure coding practices and input validation in web applications. According to attack technique tt0001 from the attack framework, this vulnerability demonstrates how authenticated users can leverage legitimate application features to access restricted resources, making it essential for organizations to implement comprehensive security monitoring and access control mechanisms. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins or application components that may present similar risks.