CVE-2022-1580 Scanner

The Site Offline WP Plugin is a popular tool used by website administrators on WordPress platforms to manage site visibility when conducting maintenance or migrating content. Used extensively by developers and content managers, it allows for a controlled user experience by restricting the visibility of the site during updates. The plugin is especially critical for professional websites that need to regularly update content without disrupting user engagement. With its flexible settings, the plugin can redirect visitors to a custom landing page, maintaining site aesthetics while offline. This tool is essential for businesses and individuals who aim to ensure seamless content transitions and updates without losing website traffic.

The Authorization Bypass vulnerability present in the Site Offline WP Plugin allows unauthorized users to bypass the access restrictions enforced by the plugin. This occurs when the URL query string contains specific keywords that override the plugin's security features. As a result, unauthorized access to restricted site areas is possible, undermining the main functionality of the plugin. The vulnerability, found in versions below 1.5.3, exploits the failure of the software to properly validate URL inputs, leading to unauthorized site access. This presents a significant risk for maintaining the intended restricted access of a site during downtime.

Technically, the vulnerability lies in the plugin's inadequate URL filtering mechanism. By appending certain keywords to a site's URL, the normal restriction protocols are bypassed. This allows access to sections of the site that should be hidden or restricted during maintenance periods. Specifically, it affects the URL handling in the plugin, which fails to appropriately distinguish between authorized and unauthorized query strings. The exploitation can occur with minimal prerequisites, making it a feasible target for attackers with low technical resources.

If exploited, attackers could gain access to parts of a website meant to be inaccessible, potentially exposing sensitive information and disrupting site maintenance processes. This can lead to information disclosure, unauthorized data manipulation, and could serve as a stepping stone for further exploitation or attacks. The bypass could allow attackers to perform actions normally restricted during offline modes, possibly affecting the integrity and confidentiality of the website. The resultant exposure could harm the credibility and privacy of information normally protected by the site offline settings.

REFERENCES

• https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/7b6f91cd-5a00-49ca-93ff-db7220d2630a/
• https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-1580