CVE-2018-10101 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

WordPress versions prior to 4.9.5 had a vulnerability where the URL validator incorrectly assumed that URLs with the hostname 'localhost' were on the same host as the WordPress server.

Understanding CVE-2018-10101

In April 2018, CVE-2018-10101 was published to address a security issue in WordPress versions before 4.9.5.

What is CVE-2018-10101?

Before WordPress 4.9.5, the URL validator wrongly treated URLs containing 'localhost' as being on the same host as the WordPress server, potentially leading to security risks.

The Impact of CVE-2018-10101

This vulnerability could be exploited by attackers to bypass security restrictions and perform unauthorized actions on the affected WordPress sites.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-10101

WordPress CVE-2018-10101 involves:

Vulnerability Description

The URL validator in WordPress incorrectly handled URLs with the hostname 'localhost,' assuming they were on the same host as the WordPress server.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: WordPress
Versions Affected: Prior to 4.9.5

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to manipulate URLs containing 'localhost' and potentially gain unauthorized access to the WordPress site.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2018-10101, follow these steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update WordPress to version 4.9.5 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Review and sanitize URLs to ensure they do not contain 'localhost' as a hostname.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update WordPress and plugins to the latest versions to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement security best practices to protect WordPress sites from potential exploits.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches promptly to keep WordPress installations secure and prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.