CVE-2022-0236

WP Import Export Lite & WP Import Export <= 3.9.15 - Unauthenticated Sensitive Data Disclosure

2022-01-14 00:00
Karan Saini

Strategic Overview

Status
Patched in 3.9.16
Affected Plugin
WP Import Export Lite
Affected Version
<= 3.9.15
CVSS
7.5High
Weakness type
CWE-862 · Missing Authorization
CVE
CVE-2022-0236
View all WP Import Export Lite vulnerabilities

At a glance

CVE-2022-0236 is a high-severity Missing Authorization vulnerability in the WP Import Export Lite WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 3.9.15. 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 3.9.16; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed January 2022, reported by Karan Saini.

Vulnerability Overview

The WP Import Export WordPress plugin (both free and premium versions) is vulnerable to unauthenticated sensitive data disclosure due to a missing capability check on the download function wpie_process_file_download found in the ~/includes/classes/class-wpie-general.php file. This made it possible for unauthenticated attackers to download any imported or exported information from a vulnerable site which can contain sensitive information like user data. This affects versions up to, and including, 3.9.15.

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-862: Missing Authorization

Reaching this weakness in WP Import Export Lite <= 3.9.15 takes no account at all. A missing authorization check means a function is reachable by anyone who can reach the endpoint, because the code never asks whether the caller is allowed to perform the action.

Any user who can reach the endpoint gets to run an action reserved for higher-privileged roles, from reading protected data to changing settings or content. For WP Import Export Lite the fix is 3.9.16: builds <= 3.9.15 are affected, anything from 3.9.16 onward is not.

Remediation

Update to version 3.9.16, or a newer patched version

How does WordSec protect against this?

This one needs no account at all, which puts it outside what login hardening can reach; WordSec's login security narrows the account-level paths around it, and the firewall is what inspects the request itself. None of that substitutes for the fix: WP Import Export Lite 3.9.16 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.

  • Login Security
  • Alerts

External References

https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-0236https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/4c9cbe99-699a-4812-a8ae-aefd2b1e2c00https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-0236

Related records

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