CVE-2014-5014

Flash Uploader <= 3.1.2 - Arbitrary Command Execution

2014-07-18 00:00

Strategic Overview

Status: Patched in 3.1.3
Affected Plugin: WordPress Flash Uploader
Affected Version: < 3.1.3
CVSS: 9.8Critical
Weakness type: CWE-77 · Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
CVE: CVE-2014-5014

View all WordPress Flash Uploader vulnerabilities

At a glance

CVE-2014-5014 is a critical-severity Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection') vulnerability in the WordPress Flash Uploader WordPress plugin, affecting versions < 3.1.3. It carries a CVSS score of 9.8 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity; high confidentiality, integrity, availability impact). Exploitation requires no authentication. The issue is fixed in version 3.1.3; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed July 2014, reported by James Hooker.

Vulnerability Overview

The WordPress Flash Uploader plugin before 3.1.3 for WordPress allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via vectors related to invalid characters in image_magic_path.

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-77: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')

The product constructs all or part of a command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended command when it is sent to a downstream component.

Remediation

Update to version 3.1.3, or a newer patched version

How does WordSec protect against this?

The attempt arrives as an ordinary request to WordPress Flash Uploader: WordSec's web application firewall inspects request payloads before WordPress loads them. 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. None of that substitutes for the fix: WordPress Flash Uploader 3.1.3 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.

Firewall
Scanner
Alerts

External References

https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2014-5014 https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/f1388322-d935-4101-a6c4-a7c99228ddec https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-5014

CVSS Vector

9.8

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

Base

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

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