CVE-2023-47873 Scanner

The WP Child Theme Generator is a popular WordPress plugin used by developers and site contributors to create child themes for their WordPress websites. This tool assists in extending and modifying themes without altering the original theme, which is useful for maintaining customizations even after theme updates. It is commonly used in developing environments to enhance site design and functionality. The generator ensures that modifications are safely stored, allowing for easy deployment and reduced risk when updating parent themes. The plugin aims to offer a user-friendly interface to generate child themes without delving into complex coding. This functionality makes it an essential tool for many WordPress site administrators aiming for flexible yet stable theme management.

An Arbitrary File Upload vulnerability allows attackers to upload potentially malicious files onto a server, often bypassing restrictions on acceptable user inputs. It compromises the integrity and security of the host application, possibly leading to further exploitation such as server takeover or data breaches. The vulnerability in the WP Child Theme Generator particularly affects those running versions from n/a through 1.0.9. Attackers leveraging this could deploy scripts and compromise site functionality or user data. It poses significant risks, given the wide usage of the plugin across WordPress sites globally. As this involves file upload mechanisms, appropriate validation and sanitization measures were overlooked.

The vulnerability lies in the plugin's file upload process, specifically when handling child theme files. When a user, even without authenticated privilege, attempts to upload a file, the plugin fails to properly validate file types. This lack of restriction allows threat actors to upload executable files, typically with a .php extension. The critical endpoint concerned is "wp-admin/admin-post.php", which processes upload requests without stringent checks. The vulnerable parameter includes the 'fileUpload' form-data field, where attackers can embed dangerous scripts masqueraded as safe file types. The remediation involves adjusting server-side validation processes to strictly filter and control acceptable file types.

If exploited, this vulnerability could enable attackers to execute arbitrary code on the server, resulting in unauthorized access, data theft, and potential defacement of the hosted website. Such access could lead to privilege escalation where attackers might gain broader access to the networked environment. In severe instances, this could facilitate the deployment of malware or ransomware, threatening data integrity and availability. Beyond immediate impacts, it may damage the organization's reputation and erode user trust. Recovery from such an attack could require extensive resources to restore and secure affected systems.

REFERENCES

• https://github.com/certuscyber/cve-pocs/tree/main/CVE-2023-47873
• https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/wp-child-theme-generator/vulnerability/wordpress-wp-child-theme-generator-plugin-1-0-8-arbitrary-file-upload-vulnerability
• https://en-ca.wordpress.org/plugins/wp-child-theme-generator/
• https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/wp-child-theme-generator/wordpress-wp-child-theme-generator-plugin-1-0-8-arbitrary-file-upload-vulnerability?_s_id=cve