WordPress Twenty Twenty Theme Full Path Disclosure Scanner

WordPress Twenty Twenty Theme is widely used by website developers and content managers as a default theme option provided by WordPress. This theme helps quickly deploy and manage websites across the globe, allowing users to focus more on content creation rather than design. Its flexibility and ease of customization make it popular among small business owners, bloggers, and even large corporations. The theme is primarily used for building responsive and aesthetically pleasing websites that work across all devices. Furthermore, it integrates seamlessly with WordPress's dynamic content management system offering accessibility features along with extensive plugin support. Such ubiquitous usage makes it highly critical to ensure its security, as vulnerabilities impact a wide user base.

The vulnerability found in the WordPress Twenty Twenty Theme is a Full Path Disclosure (FPD). Full Path Disclosure is a security issue where sensitive information about the server's internal directory structure is revealed to unauthorized users. Such a vulnerability can provide attackers with crucial information that can be leveraged for further exploitation. It typically occurs when server-side errors are not properly handled, leading to the output of full file paths in response messages. Detecting this vulnerability is essential because it can be an entry point for more severe attacks. Its presence might look trivial, but it reveals the structure of the filesystem, which is useful information for attackers.

The technical details of this vulnerability involve the exposure of internal file system paths through error messages generated by the WordPress Twenty Twenty Theme. The vulnerable endpoint, in this case, is specifically the 'functions.php' file inside the 'twentytwenty' theme directory. When accessed, this file can produce error messages containing full paths due to specific checks such as the presence of functions that are expected but missing, like 'add_action()'. This endpoint, when improperly secured, allows unauthorized users to view error pages showing internal paths of the WordPress installation environment. The parameters involved are essentially any unhandled errors or improperly secured calls within the 'functions.php' file.

When exploited, Full Path Disclosure can lead to several possible effects detrimental to the security posture of the affected WordPress site. Attackers may use the disclosed paths to gain insights into the server's directory structure, making subsequent attacks easier to plan and execute. They might discover the exact locations of configuration files or other sensitive areas of the server. This information can also be used in conjunction with other vulnerabilities, like Local File Inclusion (LFI) and Remote File Inclusion (RFI), to escalate the attack further. Additionally, it can act as supporting information while attempting directory traversal or command injection attacks.

REFERENCES

• https://wordpress.stackexchange.com/questions/62999/worthwhile-to-restrict-direct-access-of-theme-files
• https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/38317