WordPress Mailchimp for WordPress Plugin Information Disclosure Scanner

The Mailchimp for WordPress plugin is widely used by businesses and individuals who utilize the WordPress platform to enhance their sites' email marketing efforts with Mailchimp integration. As a robust email marketing tool, it helps website owners grow their subscriber lists and send targeted campaigns with ease. The plugin is generally used by e-commerce sites, bloggers, and marketers to automate email marketing tasks, manage audiences, and track engagement. Its user-friendly features make it accessible for both technical and non-technical users seeking to leverage Mailchimp's capabilities directly from their WordPress dashboards. The integration simplifies the process of syncing your site with Mailchimp, facilitating seamless data flow between the two systems.

The Information Disclosure vulnerability detected in this plugin reveals sensitive paths and error messages that could be exploited. Information disclosure vulnerabilities allow unauthorized users or attackers to gain insights into internal file structures or systems. This specific vulnerability can provide attackers with knowledge regarding the internal paths of the file system in use by the plugin. If exploited, such vulnerabilities may potentially lead to more severe actions, such as further scans or enhanced attack vectors. Identifying and addressing this type of vulnerability is essential for maintaining site security and protecting sensitive data from being inadvertently exposed.

Technically, this vulnerability is identified when a specific endpoint is accessed and returns an error message revealing information about internal file paths. The vulnerability in question affects the endpoint located in the bootstrap.php file under the integrations directory of the Mailchimp for WordPress plugin. When this file is accessed, it essentially triggers a fatal error containing detailed information useful to an attacker. The response includes specific phrases like 'Fatal error' and 'Call to undefined function', indicating improper handling of code that discloses information about the file path. The inadequate handling of errors in this resource serves as the core issue, leading to potential exposure of sensitive information.

Exploiting this vulnerability can lead to several adverse effects on your WordPress site. Attackers could potentially gain insights into file structures, which might highlight further security flaws such as unprotected admin interfaces or files with executable code. Unauthorized access to detailed path information could serve as a stepping stone for targeted phishing attacks or further code injection attempts. This kind of information gives attackers potential insight into the server's configuration and might expose other vulnerabilities, resulting in a loss of confidentiality and privacy. Information disclosure due to misconfiguration poses an unnecessary risk to overall security and should be mitigated promptly.

REFERENCES

• https://wordpress.org/plugins/mailchimp-for-wp/