WordPress Ari Adminer Plugin Database Information Leakage Scanner

WordPress is a popular blogging platform developed by the WordPress Foundation, extensively used by bloggers and web developers to create and manage dynamic websites. It is built using PHP and supports MySQL databases, making it a flexible choice for personal blogs and business websites. The platform offers a variety of themes and plugins to enhance user experience and site functionality. WordPress's open-source nature allows for extensive customization, which appeals to a large development community. The Ari Adminer Plugin is integrated into WordPress to provide users with a simplified database management experience. It is particularly useful for managing and backing up database tables directly from the WordPress dashboard.

The vulnerability involves the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive database backup files, which can lead to data leakage. This particular issue affects WordPress Ari Adminer Plugin v. 1.1.12, potentially allowing unauthorized users to access the database backup file without verification. Information leakage vulnerabilities are critical, as they expose confidential data that may be exploited for further attacks. The vulnerability emphasizes the importance of secure backup management and access control in web applications. If not addressed, it could lead to severe security breaches exposing user information, credentials, and other sensitive data.

The vulnerability is technically located in the installation path, where the backup file 'install.sql' is accessible via the '/wp-content/plugins/ari-adminer/install/install.sql' endpoint. The HTTP GET method can be used to access this SQL file due to insufficient access restrictions, allowing unauthorized reading of the database schema. The vulnerable parameter is related to the endpoint URL, where the presence of database table creation commands indicates the disclosure. A successful request that returns a status of 200 and contains keywords like "CREATE TABLE" confirms the information leakage. The exposure of such files without validation mechanisms constitutes a serious security risk, necessitating preventive action.

Exploitation of this vulnerability can result in adverse effects like unauthorized access to critical database information. Malicious entities could manipulate or extract data stored in the database, leading to potential loss of information integrity and privacy. This can ultimately result in identity theft, financial losses, or defacement of the affected website. Organizations may suffer reputational damage and legal consequences arising from non-compliance with data protection regulations. Preventive measures, including secure access control and encryption, are essential to safeguard against these risks.