CVE-2021-44223

WordPress Core < 5.8 - Dependency Confusion

2021-11-25 00:00

Strategic Overview

Status: Patched in 5.8
Affected Core: WordPress 5.7
Affected Version: <= 5.7.5
CVSS: 8.1High
Weakness type: CWE-345 · Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity
CVE: CVE-2021-44223

At a glance

CVE-2021-44223 is a high-severity Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity vulnerability in the WordPress 5.7 WordPress release line, affecting <= 5.7.5. It carries a CVSS score of 8.1 (reachable over the network; high confidentiality, integrity, availability impact). Exploitation requires no authentication. The issue is fixed in version 5.8; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed November 2021, reported by Kamil Vavra.

Vulnerability Overview

WordPress before 5.8 lacks support for the Update URI plugin header. This makes it easier for remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a supply-chain attack against WordPress installations that use any plugin for which the slug satisfies the naming constraints of the WordPress.org Plugin Directory but is not yet present in that directory.

Technical Analysis

The vector marks this flaw as remotely reachable over the network, and no privileges on the target site, and no interaction from a victim user. A successful exploit has high impact on confidentiality, integrity, availability — full site compromise territory.

CWE-345: Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity

The product does not sufficiently verify the origin or authenticity of data, in a way that causes it to accept invalid data.

Remediation

Update to version 5.8, or a newer patched version

How does WordSec protect against this?

The fix is the thing that ends this: updating to 5.8 is the step that ends it.

Alerts

External References

https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-44223 https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/719fe585-369b-47ef-b3c1-15729f88ae2d https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-44223

Related records

Same weakness class

4.3CVE-2020-28033: WordPress Core Spam Embed on Multisite InstallationsCVE-2020-28033

Other vulnerabilities in WordPress 5.7

CVSS Vector

8.1

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Base

Attack VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityHigh
Privileges RequiredNone
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityHigh

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