Ajax Store Locator <= 1.2 - Arbitrary File Download
Strategic Overview
- Status
- Unpatched
- Affected Plugin
- AJAX Store Locator
- Affected Version
<= 1.2- CVSS
- 7.5High
- Weakness type
- CWE-22 · Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
- CVE
CVE pending
At a glance
This record tracks a high-severity Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') vulnerability in the AJAX Store Locator WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 1.2. It carries a CVSS score of 7.5 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity; high confidentiality impact). Exploitation requires no authentication. No fixed release has been reported yet; treat installations running this software as exposed. Disclosed December 2014, reported by Claudio Viviani.
Vulnerability Overview
The Ajax Store Locator plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Arbitrary File Download in versions up to, and including, 1.2 via the 'download_file' parameter in the 'sl_file_download.php' file. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to download arbitrary files from the vulnerable service.
Technical Analysis
The vector marks this flaw as remotely reachable over the network, with low attack complexity — no special timing or configuration is needed, and no privileges on the target site, and no interaction from a victim user. A successful exploit has high impact on confidentiality.
CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
AJAX Store Locator <= 1.2 carries this weakness at download_file, and reaching it takes a caller who can reach the endpoint. Path traversal happens when user-controlled text is used to build a filesystem path without being constrained to an intended directory, so sequences like ../ walk the resolved path somewhere else.
Depending on the operation, it means reading files outside the intended folder — wp-config.php being the usual target — or writing to and deleting paths the web server can touch. No fixed build of this plugin is recorded for AJAX Store Locator yet, so installs running <= 1.2 stay exposed until the vendor ships one.
Remediation
No known patch available. Please review the vulnerability's details in depth and employ mitigations based on your organization's risk tolerance. It may be best to uninstall the affected software and find a replacement.
How does WordSec protect against this?
The attempt arrives as an ordinary request to AJAX Store Locator: WordSec's web application firewall inspects request payloads before WordPress loads them. No patched version is recorded yet, which is the case where a filtering layer matters most, because there is nothing to update to.
- Firewall
- Alerts
External References
Related records
Other vulnerabilities in AJAX Store Locator
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