CVE-2015-10138: Arbitrary File Upload Vulnerability in Work The Flow File Upload WordPress Plugin

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CVE-2015-10138: Arbitrary File Upload Vulnerability in Work The Flow File Upload WordPress Plugin

Welcome back to the blog! Today we're diving into CVE-2015-10138, a critical vulnerability affecting the Work The Flow File Upload plugin for WordPress. This flaw could allow attackers to upload malicious files and potentially gain control of your website. Let's get into the details!

🔍 TL;DR Summary

The Work The Flow File Upload plugin, up to version 2.5.2, suffers from an unrestricted file upload vulnerability. Unauthenticated attackers can upload arbitrary files, potentially executing malicious code on the server. Update immediately!

🚨 Vulnerability Details

  • CVE ID: CVE-2015-10138
  • Description: The Work The Flow File Upload plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file uploads due to missing file type validation.
  • CVSS Score: 9.8 (Critical)
  • CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS Vector Explanation: This vulnerability has a CVSS score of 9.8, which is considered CRITICAL. Let's break it down: AV:N (Network Attack Vector), meaning the vulnerability can be exploited over the network; AC:L (Low Attack Complexity), indicating it's relatively easy to exploit; PR:N (No Privileges Required), meaning an attacker doesn't need any credentials; UI:N (No User Interaction), requiring no interaction from the victim; S:U (Unchanged Scope), meaning the vulnerability affects the same system; and C:H/I:H/A:H (High Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability Impact), implying a successful exploit can lead to complete data compromise, system modification, and service disruption.

  • Exploit Requirements: No authentication required. An attacker simply needs to send a crafted request to upload a malicious file.
  • Affected Vendor: WordPress
  • Affected Product: Work The Flow File Upload Plugin
  • Affected Version: Up to 2.5.2
  • CWE: CWE-434 - Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type

CWE-434 Explanation: This CWE describes a scenario where a system allows users to upload files without properly validating their type. This can lead to an attacker uploading executable files (like PHP scripts) that can then be run on the server, leading to full system compromise.

📅 Timeline of Events

  • 2015 (Approximate): Vulnerability introduced in the plugin.
  • 2015: Vulnerability reported and patched. (See references for specific commit details).
  • 2025-07-19: CVE assigned and this blog post created to raise awareness.

🧠 Exploitability & Real-World Risk

This vulnerability is highly exploitable. An attacker can simply upload a PHP script (or other executable file) disguised as a legitimate file type. Once uploaded, the attacker can access the script via a web browser, executing arbitrary code on the server. In a real-world attack, this could lead to website defacement, data theft, or even complete server takeover.

🛠️ Recommendations

  • Update Immediately: Update the Work The Flow File Upload plugin to the latest version. The vulnerability has been patched in versions greater than 2.5.2.
  • Remove the Plugin: If you are not using the plugin, remove it completely from your WordPress installation.
  • Web Application Firewall (WAF): Consider using a Web Application Firewall to provide an additional layer of protection against file upload vulnerabilities.

🧪 Technical Insight

The root cause of the vulnerability is the lack of proper file type validation. The plugin's upload functionality doesn't verify the actual contents of the uploaded file, relying solely on the file extension. Attackers can easily bypass this by renaming malicious files with a valid extension, such as `.jpg` or `.png`, while the actual content remains an executable script. The server then executes the file, leading to compromise.

🙌 Credit to Researcher(s)

This vulnerability was discovered by various security researchers and reported through different channels including Wordfence and WPScan.

🔗 References

🧵 Tags

#CVE-2015-10138 #WordPress #Plugin #FileUpload #RCE #Security

Summary: CVE-2015-10138 is a critical vulnerability in the Work The Flow File Upload WordPress plugin that allows unauthenticated attackers to upload arbitrary files. This can lead to remote code execution and complete server compromise. Update to the latest version immediately to mitigate this risk.

CVE ID: CVE-2015-10138

Risk Analysis: Successful exploitation can lead to website defacement, data theft, and complete server takeover, causing significant damage to the organization.

Recommendation: Update the Work The Flow File Upload plugin to the latest version (greater than 2.5.2) or remove the plugin if it's not being used.

Timeline

  • 2015: Vulnerability introduced in the plugin.
  • 2015: Vulnerability reported and patched.
  • 2025-07-19: CVE assigned and blog post created to raise awareness.

References

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