WordPress Plugin lifterlms Information Disclosure Scanner

LifterLMS is a WordPress plugin used by educators, course creators, and online instructors to create and manage online courses. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools designed to transform WordPress websites into a powerful learning management system. The plugin allows users to create courses, quizzes, and memberships; and manage students and their progress. LifterLMS is commonly used in educational institutions, by entrepreneurs, and businesses to offer online learning and courses. Its integration capabilities with other WordPress plugins and ease of use make it popular among non-technical users. It offers customizable design options and a variety of tools to aid in tracking student engagement and success.

The "Directory listing due to insecure default configuration" vulnerability occurs when a server is configured to allow directory listing, exposing the files and directories stored on the server. This vulnerability enables potential attackers or unauthorized users to view sensitive files or scripts that should be hidden from public access. Directory listing vulnerabilities can lead to unauthorized discovery of critical files, which may include configuration files, sensitive data, or even files containing login credentials. Left unaddressed, such vulnerabilities could be exploited by attackers to gain more information about the server setup, which could aid in launching further attacks. It often results from improper server configuration and the failure to suppress directory listing settings.

Information about the vulnerability in this scanner is focused on detecting exposed directories within the LifterLMS plugin's installation on WordPress. The vulnerability is identified by attempting to access known folder paths, specifically the "/wp-content/plugins/lifterlms/" directory, and checking if the server returns an index page indicating a directory listing. A proper response confirming the presence of "Index of" along with the directory path suggests that directory listing is enabled. This allows anyone accessing the server to view the directory's contents, which might include files that are neither meant to be accessible nor secured against public access.

The potential effects of exploiting this directory listing vulnerability include unauthorized access to sensitive files such as PHP scripts, configuration files, or data files that could potentially contain vulnerable information, like credentials. Exposing these files can lead to information disclosure, which attackers could use to exploit other vulnerabilities or to gain unauthorized access to the system. Additionally, understanding the server's directory structure can help attackers plan further attacks, such as SQL injection or path traversal, if other vulnerabilities exist. Ensuring that directory listing configurations are properly set can help prevent these security issues.

REFERENCES

• https://www.exploit-db.com/ghdb/6420