In the ever-evolving landscape of web security, the discovery of new vulnerabilities is a constant reminder of the necessity for vigilance. Recently, during the testing of the widely-used WP-Staging | Migration Backup Restore plugin for WordPress, a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability, designated as CVE-2024-4469, was identified. This vulnerability poses significant risks, as it can be exploited to scan local ports on the host server, potentially leading to further security breaches.
| CVE | CVE-2024-4469 |
| Plugin | WP-Staging | Migration Backup Restore < 3.5.0 |
| Critical | High |
| All Time | 3 224 369 |
| Active installations | 100 000+ |
| Publicly Published | May 14, 2024 |
| Last Updated | May 14, 2024 |
| Researcher | Dmtirii Ignatyev |
| OWASP TOP-10 | A1: Injection |
| PoC | Yes |
| Exploit | No |
| Reference | https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2024-4469 https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/d6b1270b-52c0-471d-a5fb-507e21b46310/ |
| Plugin Security Certification by CleanTalk |  |
| Logo of the plugin |  |
Timeline
| April 17, 2024 | Plugin testing and vulnerability detection in the WP-Staging | Migration Backup Restore have been completed |
| April 17, 2024 | I contacted the author of the plugin and provided a vulnerability PoC with a description and recommendations for fixing |
| May 14, 2024 | Registered CVE-2024-4469 |
Discovery of the Vulnerability
The SSRF vulnerability in the WP-Staging plugin was uncovered during routine security testing. The testing team discovered that by manipulating the “Upload Backup” feature, an attacker could direct the plugin to make requests to internal addresses, such as http://127.0.0.1:XXX/123.wpstg. If the targeted port on the local host is open, the user would receive a “Not Found” error message. Conversely, if the port is closed, no response would be returned. This discovery highlights a serious flaw in the plugin’s handling of URLs during the backup upload process, enabling potential attackers to probe and map internal network configurations.
Understanding of Stored XSS attack’s
Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) is a type of vulnerability that occurs when an attacker can trick a server into making requests to unintended locations, including internal services that are not directly exposed to the internet. In the context of WordPress, SSRF vulnerabilities can be particularly damaging as they can lead to the exposure of internal network details, unauthorized access to sensitive data, and even the exploitation of other vulnerabilities within the internal network.
A real-world example of an SSRF attack involves using a vulnerable application to query metadata services on cloud platforms. For instance, an attacker might use an SSRF vulnerability to access AWS EC2 instance metadata, potentially leaking sensitive information like instance credentials.
Exploiting the Stored XSS Vulnerability
To exploit the SSRF vulnerability in WP-Staging, an attacker would follow these steps:
POC:
You should click “Upload Backup” and add http://127.0.0.1:XXX/123.wpstg -> “Upload“. If port is open it will give error “Not Found” to user. If port isn’t open it will give nothing.
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The potential risks associated with the CVE-2024-4469 vulnerability are significant. By exploiting this SSRF vulnerability, attackers can:
- Map Internal Networks: Gain insights into the internal network configuration, including discovering services running on different ports.
- Bypass Firewalls: Access internal services that are not intended to be exposed to the internet, bypassing firewall protections.
- Exploit Internal Services: Use information gathered from SSRF attacks to exploit other vulnerabilities in internal services, potentially leading to data breaches, unauthorized access, and further compromise of the system.
In real-world scenarios, such vulnerabilities have been leveraged to launch more sophisticated attacks, including lateral movement within a network, privilege escalation, and exfiltration of sensitive data.
Recommendations for Improved Security
To mitigate the risks posed by SSRF vulnerabilities, it is essential to implement robust security practices:
- Input Validation and Sanitization: Ensure that any user-provided input, particularly URLs, is thoroughly validated and sanitized before being used by the application.
- Restrict Internal Network Access: Implement strict access controls to prevent unauthorized requests to internal network resources from web applications.
- Use Allowlists: Configure the application to only allow requests to specific, trusted external addresses, and block all other requests by default.
- Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits and code reviews to identify and remediate potential vulnerabilities in the codebase.
- Update and Patch: Keep all plugins, themes, and the WordPress core up to date with the latest security patches and updates.
In conclusion, the discovery of CVE-2024-4469 in the WP-Staging plugin serves as a critical reminder of the importance of proactive security measures in web applications. By understanding and addressing SSRF vulnerabilities, developers and administrators can significantly enhance the security posture of their WordPress installations, protecting against potential exploits and ensuring the integrity of their systems.
By taking proactive measures to address SSRF vulnerabilities like CVE-2024-4469, WordPress website owners can enhance their security posture and safeguard against potential exploitation. Stay vigilant, stay secure.
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