CVE-2016-10924

Zedna eBook download < 1.2 - Directory Traversal

2016-03-29 00:00
Wadeek

Strategic Overview

Status
Patched in 1.2
Affected Plugin
Zedna eBook download
Affected Version
< 1.2
CVSS
7.5High
Weakness type
CWE-22 · Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
CVE
CVE-2016-10924
View all Zedna eBook download vulnerabilities

At a glance

CVE-2016-10924 is a high-severity Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') vulnerability in the Zedna eBook download 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. The issue is fixed in version 1.2; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed March 2016, reported by Wadeek.

Vulnerability Overview

The ebook-download plugin before 1.2 for WordPress has directory traversal via ebookdownloadurl parameter.

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')

Reaching this weakness in Zedna eBook download < 1.2 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. For Zedna eBook download the fix is 1.2: builds < 1.2 are affected, anything from 1.2 onward is not.

Remediation

Update to version 1.2, or a newer patched version

How does WordSec protect against this?

The attempt arrives as an ordinary request to Zedna eBook download: WordSec's web application firewall inspects request payloads before WordPress loads them. None of that substitutes for the fix: Zedna eBook download 1.2 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.

  • Firewall
  • Alerts

External References

Vulnerability data © Defiant, Inc., provided under the Wordfence Intelligence T&C