CVE-2018-19042 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

Arbitrary file movement vulnerability in the Media File Manager plugin 1.4.2 for WordPress allows unauthorized directory traversal, potentially leading to file manipulation.

Understanding CVE-2018-19042

What is CVE-2018-19042?

The vulnerability in the Media File Manager plugin for WordPress enables attackers to perform arbitrary file movements through directory traversal using the ../ syntax.

The Impact of CVE-2018-19042

This vulnerability allows malicious actors to manipulate files by exploiting the dir_from and dir_to parameters of an mrelocator_move action directed at the wp-admin/admin-ajax.php URI.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-19042

Vulnerability Description

The Media File Manager plugin 1.4.2 for WordPress is susceptible to a directory traversal flaw that permits unauthorized file movement.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Version: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is exploited by utilizing the ../ syntax within the dir_from and dir_to parameters of the mrelocator_move action.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable or remove the Media File Manager plugin if not essential for operations.
Implement strict input validation to prevent directory traversal attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch WordPress plugins to address known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security audits to identify and mitigate potential risks.
Educate users on safe file management practices to prevent unauthorized access.

Patching and Updates

Ensure the Media File Manager plugin is updated to a secure version or consider alternative plugins with robust security measures.