Vulnerabilities > CVE-2018-20151 - Information Exposure vulnerability in multiple products

047910
CVSS 7.5 - HIGH
Attack vector
NETWORK
Attack complexity
LOW
Privileges required
NONE
Confidentiality impact
HIGH
Integrity impact
NONE
Availability impact
NONE
network
low complexity
wordpress
debian
CWE-200
nessus
NVD
Published: 2018-12-14
Updated: 2024-11-21

Summary

In WordPress before 4.9.9 and 5.x before 5.0.1, the user-activation page could be read by a search engine's web crawler if an unusual configuration were chosen. The search engine could then index and display a user's e-mail address and (rarely) the password that was generated by default.

Vulnerable Configurations

Part Description Count
Application
Wordpress
822
OS
Debian
2

Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE)

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

  • Subverting Environment Variable Values
    The attacker directly or indirectly modifies environment variables used by or controlling the target software. The attacker's goal is to cause the target software to deviate from its expected operation in a manner that benefits the attacker.
  • Footprinting
    An attacker engages in probing and exploration activity to identify constituents and properties of the target. Footprinting is a general term to describe a variety of information gathering techniques, often used by attackers in preparation for some attack. It consists of using tools to learn as much as possible about the composition, configuration, and security mechanisms of the targeted application, system or network. Information that might be collected during a footprinting effort could include open ports, applications and their versions, network topology, and similar information. While footprinting is not intended to be damaging (although certain activities, such as network scans, can sometimes cause disruptions to vulnerable applications inadvertently) it may often pave the way for more damaging attacks.
  • Exploiting Trust in Client (aka Make the Client Invisible)
    An attack of this type exploits a programs' vulnerabilities in client/server communication channel authentication and data integrity. It leverages the implicit trust a server places in the client, or more importantly, that which the server believes is the client. An attacker executes this type of attack by placing themselves in the communication channel between client and server such that communication directly to the server is possible where the server believes it is communicating only with a valid client. There are numerous variations of this type of attack.
  • Browser Fingerprinting
    An attacker carefully crafts small snippets of Java Script to efficiently detect the type of browser the potential victim is using. Many web-based attacks need prior knowledge of the web browser including the version of browser to ensure successful exploitation of a vulnerability. Having this knowledge allows an attacker to target the victim with attacks that specifically exploit known or zero day weaknesses in the type and version of the browser used by the victim. Automating this process via Java Script as a part of the same delivery system used to exploit the browser is considered more efficient as the attacker can supply a browser fingerprinting method and integrate it with exploit code, all contained in Java Script and in response to the same web page request by the browser.
  • Session Credential Falsification through Prediction
    This attack targets predictable session ID in order to gain privileges. The attacker can predict the session ID used during a transaction to perform spoofing and session hijacking.

Nessus

  • NASL familyCGI abuses
    NASL idWORDPRESS_5_0_1.NASL
    descriptionAccording to its self-reported version number, the WordPress application running on the remote web server is prior to 4.9.9, or 5.x prior to 5.0.1. It is, therefore, affected by multiple vulnerabilities, including cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities due to improper validation of user-supplied input before returning it to users.
    last seen2020-04-30
    modified2018-12-13
    plugin id119615
    published2018-12-13
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2018-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/119615
    titleWordPress < 4.9.9 / 5.x < 5.0.1 Multiple Vulnerabilities
    code
    #
# (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
#

include("compat.inc");

if (description)
{
  script_id(119615);
  script_version("1.6");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2020/04/27");

  script_cve_id(
    "CVE-2018-20147",
    "CVE-2018-20148",
    "CVE-2018-20149",
    "CVE-2018-20150",
    "CVE-2018-20151",
    "CVE-2018-20152",
    "CVE-2018-20153"
  );

  script_name(english:"WordPress < 4.9.9 / 5.x < 5.0.1 Multiple Vulnerabilities");
  script_summary(english:"Checks the version of WordPress.");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"A PHP application running on the remote web server is affected by
multiple vulnerabilities.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"According to its self-reported version number, the WordPress
application running on the remote web server is prior to 4.9.9, or
5.x prior to 5.0.1. It is, therefore, affected by multiple
vulnerabilities, including cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities
due to improper validation of user-supplied input before returning
it to users.");
  # https://wordpress.org/news/2018/12/wordpress-5-0-1-security-release/
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?b90fd4fc");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"Upgrade to WordPress version 4.9.9 or 5.0.1 or later.");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:OF/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2018-20148");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2018/12/13");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2018/12/13");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2018/12/13");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"potential_vulnerability", value:"true");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"remote");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/a:wordpress:wordpress");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"CGI abuses");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2018-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("wordpress_detect.nasl");
  script_require_keys("www/PHP", "installed_sw/WordPress", "Settings/ParanoidReport");
  script_require_ports("Services/www", 80, 443);

  exit(0);
}

include("vcf.inc");
include("http.inc");

if (report_paranoia < 2) audit(AUDIT_PARANOID);

app = "WordPress";
port = get_http_port(default:80, php:TRUE);

app_info = vcf::get_app_info(app:app, port:port, webapp:TRUE);
vcf::check_granularity(app_info:app_info, sig_segments:2);

# Per https://wordpress.org/download/release-archive/
# only 5.x is currently supported :
# "None of these are safe to use, except the latest in the 5.0 series, which is actively maintained."
constraints = [
  { "fixed_version":"3.7.28", "fixed_display" : "3.7.28 / 5.0.1" },
  { "min_version":"3.8", "fixed_version":"3.8.28", "fixed_display" : "3.8.28 / 5.0.1" },
  { "min_version":"3.9", "fixed_version":"3.9.26", "fixed_display" : "3.9.26 / 5.0.1" },
  { "min_version":"4.0", "fixed_version":"4.0.25", "fixed_display" : "4.0.25 / 5.0.1" },
  { "min_version":"4.1", "fixed_version":"4.1.25", "fixed_display" : "4.1.25 / 5.0.1" },
  { "min_version":"4.2", "fixed_version":"4.2.22", "fixed_display" : "4.2.22 / 5.0.1" },
  { "min_version":"4.3", "fixed_version":"4.3.18", "fixed_display" : "4.3.18 / 5.0.1" },
  { "min_version":"4.4", "fixed_version":"4.4.17", "fixed_display" : "4.4.17 / 5.0.1" },
  { "min_version":"4.5", "fixed_version":"4.5.16", "fixed_display" : "4.5.16 / 5.0.1" },
  { "min_version":"4.6", "fixed_version":"4.6.13", "fixed_display" : "4.6.13 / 5.0.1" },
  { "min_version":"4.7", "fixed_version":"4.7.12", "fixed_display" : "4.7.12 / 5.0.1" },
  { "min_version":"4.8", "fixed_version":"4.8.8", "fixed_display" : "4.8.8 / 5.0.1" },
  { "min_version":"4.9", "fixed_version":"4.9.9", "fixed_display" : "4.9.9 / 5.0.1" },
  { "min_version":"5.0", "fixed_version":"5.0.1", "fixed_display" : "5.0.1" }
];

vcf::check_version_and_report(
  app_info:app_info,
  constraints:constraints,
  severity:SECURITY_HOLE,
  flags:{xss:TRUE}
);
  • NASL familyDebian Local Security Checks
    NASL idDEBIAN_DSA-4401.NASL
    descriptionSeveral vulnerabilities were discovered in Wordpress, a web blogging tool. They allowed remote attackers to perform various Cross-Side Scripting (XSS) and PHP injections attacks, delete files, leak potentially sensitive data, create posts of unauthorized types, or cause denial-of-service by application crash.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id122551
    published2019-03-04
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/122551
    titleDebian DSA-4401-1 : wordpress - security update
    code
    #
# (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
#
# The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were  
# extracted from Debian Security Advisory DSA-4401. The text 
# itself is copyright (C) Software in the Public Interest, Inc.
#

include("compat.inc");

if (description)
{
  script_id(122551);
  script_version("1.4");
  script_cvs_date("Date: 2019/04/10 16:10:16");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2018-20147", "CVE-2018-20148", "CVE-2018-20149", "CVE-2018-20150", "CVE-2018-20151", "CVE-2018-20152", "CVE-2018-20153", "CVE-2019-8942");
  script_xref(name:"DSA", value:"4401");

  script_name(english:"Debian DSA-4401-1 : wordpress - security update");
  script_summary(english:"Checks dpkg output for the updated package");

  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"synopsis", 
    value:"The remote Debian host is missing a security-related update."
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"description", 
    value:
"Several vulnerabilities were discovered in Wordpress, a web blogging
tool. They allowed remote attackers to perform various Cross-Side
Scripting (XSS) and PHP injections attacks, delete files, leak
potentially sensitive data, create posts of unauthorized types, or
cause denial-of-service by application crash."
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"see_also",
    value:"https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=916403"
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"see_also",
    value:"https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/source-package/wordpress"
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"see_also",
    value:"https://packages.debian.org/source/stretch/wordpress"
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"see_also",
    value:"https://www.debian.org/security/2019/dsa-4401"
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"solution", 
    value:
"Upgrade the wordpress packages.

For the stable distribution (stretch), these problems have been fixed
in version 4.7.5+dfsg-2+deb9u5."
  );
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:F/RL:OF/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:F/RL:O/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"Exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"true");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"metasploit_name", value:'WordPress Crop-image Shell Upload');
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_framework_metasploit", value:"true");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:debian:debian_linux:wordpress");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:9.0");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2018/12/14");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2019/03/01");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2019/03/04");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"generated_plugin", value:"current");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");
  script_family(english:"Debian Local Security Checks");

  script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
  script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/Debian/release", "Host/Debian/dpkg-l");

  exit(0);
}


include("audit.inc");
include("debian_package.inc");


if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
if (!get_kb_item("Host/Debian/release")) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Debian");
if (!get_kb_item("Host/Debian/dpkg-l")) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);


flag = 0;
if (deb_check(release:"9.0", prefix:"wordpress", reference:"4.7.5+dfsg-2+deb9u5")) flag++;
if (deb_check(release:"9.0", prefix:"wordpress-l10n", reference:"4.7.5+dfsg-2+deb9u5")) flag++;
if (deb_check(release:"9.0", prefix:"wordpress-theme-twentyfifteen", reference:"4.7.5+dfsg-2+deb9u5")) flag++;
if (deb_check(release:"9.0", prefix:"wordpress-theme-twentyseventeen", reference:"4.7.5+dfsg-2+deb9u5")) flag++;
if (deb_check(release:"9.0", prefix:"wordpress-theme-twentysixteen", reference:"4.7.5+dfsg-2+deb9u5")) flag++;

if (flag)
{
  if (report_verbosity > 0) security_hole(port:0, extra:deb_report_get());
  else security_hole(0);
  exit(0);
}
else audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, "affected");
  • NASL familyDebian Local Security Checks
    NASL idDEBIAN_DLA-1673.NASL
    descriptionCVE-2018-20147 Authors could modify metadata to bypass intended restrictions on deleting files. CVE-2018-20148 Contributors could conduct PHP object injection attacks via crafted metadata in a wp.getMediaItem XMLRPC call. This is caused by mishandling of serialized data at phar:// URLs in the wp_get_attachment_thumb_file function in wp-includes/post.php. CVE-2018-20149 When the Apache HTTP Server is used, authors could upload crafted files that bypass intended MIME type restrictions, leading to XSS, as demonstrated by a .jpg file without JPEG data. CVE-2018-20150 Crafted URLs could trigger XSS for certain use cases involving plugins. CVE-2018-20151 The user-activation page could be read by a search engine
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id122100
    published2019-02-12
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2019-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/122100
    titleDebian DLA-1673-1 : wordpress security update
    code
    #
# (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
#
# The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were
# extracted from Debian Security Advisory DLA-1673-1. The text
# itself is copyright (C) Software in the Public Interest, Inc.
#

include("compat.inc");

if (description)
{
  script_id(122100);
  script_version("1.2");
  script_cvs_date("Date: 2020/02/13");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2018-20147", "CVE-2018-20148", "CVE-2018-20149", "CVE-2018-20150", "CVE-2018-20151", "CVE-2018-20152", "CVE-2018-20153");

  script_name(english:"Debian DLA-1673-1 : wordpress security update");
  script_summary(english:"Checks dpkg output for the updated packages.");

  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"synopsis", 
    value:"The remote Debian host is missing a security update."
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"description", 
    value:
"CVE-2018-20147

Authors could modify metadata to bypass intended restrictions on
deleting files.

CVE-2018-20148 Contributors could conduct PHP object injection attacks
via crafted metadata in a wp.getMediaItem XMLRPC call. This is caused
by mishandling of serialized data at phar:// URLs in the
wp_get_attachment_thumb_file function in wp-includes/post.php.

CVE-2018-20149

When the Apache HTTP Server is used, authors could upload crafted
files that bypass intended MIME type restrictions, leading to XSS, as
demonstrated by a .jpg file without JPEG data.

CVE-2018-20150

Crafted URLs could trigger XSS for certain use cases involving
plugins.

CVE-2018-20151

The user-activation page could be read by a search engine's web
crawler if an unusual configuration were chosen. The search engine
could then index and display a user's e-mail address and (rarely) the
password that was generated by default.

CVE-2018-20152

Authors could bypass intended restrictions on post types via crafted
input.

CVE-2018-20153

Contributors could modify new comments made by users with greater
privileges, possibly causing XSS.

For Debian 8 'Jessie', these problems have been fixed in version
4.1.25+dfsg-1+deb8u1.

We recommend that you upgrade your wordpress packages.

NOTE: Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding description
block directly from the DLA security advisory. Tenable has attempted
to automatically clean and format it as much as possible without
introducing additional issues."
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"see_also",
    value:"https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/02/msg00019.html"
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"see_also",
    value:"https://packages.debian.org/source/jessie/wordpress"
  );
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:"Upgrade the affected packages.");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:OF/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:debian:debian_linux:wordpress");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:debian:debian_linux:wordpress-l10n");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:debian:debian_linux:wordpress-theme-twentyfifteen");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:debian:debian_linux:wordpress-theme-twentyfourteen");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:debian:debian_linux:wordpress-theme-twentythirteen");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:8.0");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2018/12/14");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2019/02/11");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2019/02/12");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"generated_plugin", value:"current");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2019-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");
  script_family(english:"Debian Local Security Checks");

  script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
  script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/Debian/release", "Host/Debian/dpkg-l");

  exit(0);
}


include("audit.inc");
include("debian_package.inc");


if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
if (!get_kb_item("Host/Debian/release")) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Debian");
if (!get_kb_item("Host/Debian/dpkg-l")) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);


flag = 0;
if (deb_check(release:"8.0", prefix:"wordpress", reference:"4.1.25+dfsg-1+deb8u1")) flag++;
if (deb_check(release:"8.0", prefix:"wordpress-l10n", reference:"4.1.25+dfsg-1+deb8u1")) flag++;
if (deb_check(release:"8.0", prefix:"wordpress-theme-twentyfifteen", reference:"4.1.25+dfsg-1+deb8u1")) flag++;
if (deb_check(release:"8.0", prefix:"wordpress-theme-twentyfourteen", reference:"4.1.25+dfsg-1+deb8u1")) flag++;
if (deb_check(release:"8.0", prefix:"wordpress-theme-twentythirteen", reference:"4.1.25+dfsg-1+deb8u1")) flag++;

if (flag)
{
  if (report_verbosity > 0) security_hole(port:0, extra:deb_report_get());
  else security_hole(0);
  exit(0);
}
else audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, "affected");

References