WordPress BuddyPress Open Redirect Scanner

WordPress BuddyPress is a popular plugin used with WordPress to enable social networking features. It is utilized by website owners looking to build community-focused sites, encompassing user profiles, activity streams, and membership capabilities. The plugin is employed by developers to enhance user engagement by incorporating interactive components into WordPress sites. Primarily, small businesses, educational institutions, and niche communities leverage BuddyPress for creating online networks. This plugin supports extensions for adding custom features, making it versatile for different networking needs. It is widely preferred due to its integration capability with WordPress themes and plugins.

An Open Redirect vulnerability is a web security flaw affecting WordPress BuddyPress versions prior to 2.9.2. This issue allows a malicious actor to manipulate redirection URLs, potentially leading users to harmful websites without their knowledge. The vulnerability is specifically tied to the wp_http_referer parameter on the bp-profile-edit admin page. Unauthorized redirections can result from the affected "Back to Users" link after profile updates. Maliciously crafted URLs can deceive users into divulging sensitive information or downloading malicious content. Such vulnerabilities threaten user trust and data security.

Technical details of the vulnerability involve the manipulation of the wp_http_referer parameter. Upon updating a profile, the parameter does not validate the redirect URL, allowing attackers to specify arbitrary destinations. This flaw occurs on the bp-profile-edit admin page, accessible with sufficient user credentials. Successful exploitation depends on a threat actor manipulating URL parameters during the profile update process. The affected component is integral to profile management in BuddyPress installations. The template identifies the vulnerability if a secondary GET request is redirected to a potentially harmful URL specified by the attacker.

Exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to users being redirected to malicious or phishing sites, undermining trust in the affected site. Users might unknowingly provide personal details or download malicious software. The vulnerability could be leveraged to execute broader social engineering attacks, exploiting the exposed trust link between users and the site. Repeated incidents could lead to long-term reputational damage and financial losses for the affected site owners. Furthermore, if exploited extensively, this could deter new users from joining sites using WordPress BuddyPress. Repairing the trust breach can be costly and time-consuming.

REFERENCES

• https://hackerone.com/reports/277502
• https://buddypress.org/2017/11/buddypress-2-9-2-security-and-maintenance-release/