Mistape 1.4.0 - Backdoor
Strategic Overview
- Status
- Unpatched
- Affected Plugin
- Mistape
- Affected Version
1.4.0- CVSS
- 9.8Critical
- Weakness type
- CWE-506 · Embedded Malicious Code
- CVE
CVE pending
At a glance
This record tracks a critical-severity Embedded Malicious Code vulnerability in the Mistape WordPress plugin, affecting versions 1.4.0. It carries a CVSS score of 9.8 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity; high confidentiality, integrity, availability impact). Exploitation requires no authentication. No fixed release has been reported yet; treat installations running this software as exposed. Disclosed February 2022.
Vulnerability Overview
The Mistape plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to a developer-created backdoor in version 1.4.0. The backdoor is present in the report_stats() function, when the 'cmb' parameter is set to 'user', the plugin then looks for the first administrative user in the database and logs the person making the request in as that user. This makes it possible for an attacker to log in as an administrator without knowing information about users on the site. In addition, the function also makes Remote Code Execution possible, if the attacker has the ability to upload files to the server.
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, integrity, availability — full site compromise territory.
CWE-506: Embedded Malicious Code
Mistape 1.4.0 carries this weakness at cmb, and reaching it takes a caller who can reach the endpoint. Embedded malicious code means functionality was deliberately placed in the software to act against the site owner's interest, rather than being an accidental defect.
Removing the software is not enough on its own — anything it created or modified while active has to be audited too. No fixed build of this plugin is recorded for Mistape yet, so installs running 1.4.0 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?
Classes like this one can leave something behind, so the staged malware scanner is the second half: it looks for dropped files and modified code rather than for the request that created them. No patched version is recorded yet, which is the case where a filtering layer matters most, because there is nothing to update to.
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External References
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