CVE-2015-10139: WPLMS WordPress Theme Vulnerable to Privilege Escalation

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CVE-2015-10139: WPLMS WordPress Theme Vulnerable to Privilege Escalation

The WPLMS theme for WordPress has a privilege escalation vulnerability that could allow authenticated users to gain administrative access to the website.

Vulnerability Details

  • CVE ID: CVE-2015-10139
  • Description: The WPLMS theme for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in versions 1.5.2 to 1.8.4.1 via the 'wp_ajax_import_data' AJAX action. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers to change otherwise restricted settings and potentially create a new accessible admin account.
  • CVSS Score: 8.8 (HIGH)
  • CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
  • CVSS Explanation: This vulnerability has a high severity because it allows an attacker with low-level authenticated access to gain full control of the WordPress site without any user interaction. The attacker can remotely exploit this vulnerability over the network.
  • Exploit Requirements: An attacker needs to have an authenticated account on the WordPress site running a vulnerable version of the WPLMS theme.
  • Affected Vendor: ThemeForest (WPLMS Theme)
  • Affected Product: WPLMS Learning Management System
  • Affected Versions: 1.5.2 to 1.8.4.1
  • CWE: CWE-269 - Improper Privilege Management
  • CWE Explanation: Improper Privilege Management occurs when the software does not properly ensure that users have the appropriate privileges to perform actions or access resources. This can lead to privilege escalation, where an attacker can gain unauthorized access or control.

Timeline of Events

  • Reported: Likely before February 9, 2015 (based on related tweets)
  • Identified: Likely around February 9, 2015 (based on related tweets)
  • CVE Assigned: CVE-2015-10139
  • Published: 2025-07-19T12:15:35.127

Exploitability & Real-World Risk

This is a high-risk vulnerability. Given that the WPLMS theme is a popular learning management system for WordPress, a successful exploit could compromise sensitive student and course data, disrupt educational services, or allow attackers to inject malicious code and deface the website. The ease of exploitation, requiring only an authenticated user account, significantly increases the risk.

Recommendations

  • Update: Upgrade to the latest version of the WPLMS theme as soon as possible.
  • Monitor: Review user roles and permissions to ensure no unauthorized accounts exist.
  • Firewall: Employ a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to detect and block exploitation attempts.

Technical Insight

The vulnerability resides in the 'wp_ajax_import_data' AJAX action. By exploiting this flaw, an authenticated user can bypass permission checks and modify critical settings, ultimately leading to privilege escalation. This is possible due to insufficient validation or authorization checks within the AJAX handler.

Credit to Researcher(s)

The original researcher is not explicitly mentioned in the provided data. However, WPScan and other security firms likely contributed to the vulnerability analysis.

References

Tags

#WordPress #Security #Vulnerability #PrivilegeEscalation #WPLMS #CVE-2015-10139

Summary: The WPLMS theme for WordPress versions 1.5.2 to 1.8.4.1 is vulnerable to privilege escalation. An authenticated attacker can exploit the 'wp_ajax_import_data' AJAX action to modify settings and potentially create an admin account, leading to full control of the website.

CVE ID: CVE-2015-10139

Risk Analysis: Successful exploitation leads to full website compromise, including data theft, defacement, and service disruption. Sensitive user data, including student information, is at risk.

Recommendation: Update the WPLMS theme to the latest version to patch the vulnerability. Review user roles and permissions. Consider implementing a web application firewall.

Timeline

  • 2015-02-09: Vulnerability reported and discussed (estimated date).
  • 2025-07-19: CVE-2015-10139 published.

References

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