External risk intelligence

WordPress plugin lets attackers take control of your website

CVE advisorySeverity: CRITICAL (CVSS 9.3)

CVE-2021-47965

WordPress plugin WP Super Edit has a critical flaw allowing attackers to upload harmful files, potentially giving them full control of your website. This issue is accessible from the internet and needs immediate attention.

4Halo Surface Signal

Unrestricted File Upload

External exposure likelihood

Halo Surface Signal score for CVE-2021-47965

The vulnerability exists in a WordPress plugin used to extend website functionality. WordPress is a content management system primarily deployed as a public-facing web application. The affected file upload endpoint is integrated into this web application, making it reachable by external actors over the internet in standard deployment patterns.

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

The WP Super Edit WordPress plugin has a vulnerability that allows anyone to upload dangerous file types. This could let attackers take full control of your system by running their own code.

  • Attackers can upload malicious files.
  • Complete system compromise is possible.
  • The issue is reachable from the internet.

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by uploading a malicious file through the vulnerable FCKeditor component in the WP Super Edit plugin. This allows them to execute arbitrary code on the server, leading to a complete system compromise.

  • No authentication required.
  • Targets file upload endpoint.
  • Exploits an unpatched plugin version.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

This vulnerability in WP Super Edit's FCKeditor component allows unrestricted file uploads, posing a significant risk of remote code execution. Attackers are drawn to such vulnerabilities because they offer a direct path to system compromise with minimal prerequisites, often without requiring user interaction or elevated privileges. The ability to upload arbitrary files, especially executable ones, is a highly sought-after capability for establishing persistent access or launching further attacks.

  • Exploit available publicly.
  • Known exploit targets WordPress.
  • No recent threat activity.

Priority actions

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

Prioritize identifying and blocking all incoming traffic targeting the WP Super Edit plugin's file manager upload endpoint, as this vulnerability allows for unauthenticated remote code execution. If the plugin is in use, immediately assess its impact and isolate affected services if exploitability is confirmed or high.

  • Block direct access to upload endpoints.
  • Disable or remove the plugin.
  • Monitor for suspicious file uploads.

Frequently asked questions

What is the WP Super Edit plugin for WordPress?

WP Super Edit is a WordPress plugin that offers functionalities to enhance and modify the appearance and behavior of WordPress websites, particularly through its FCKeditor component which is used for content editing.

What kind of weakness does CVE-2021-47965 represent?

CVE-2021-47965 is an unrestricted file upload vulnerability, categorized as CWE-434. This weakness allows attackers to upload files of dangerous types without proper validation, potentially leading to remote code execution.

How can an attacker exploit this WordPress vulnerability?

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by uploading malicious files through the file manager upload endpoint within the FCKeditor component of the WP Super Edit plugin.

Who needs to be concerned about CVE-2021-47965?

Organizations with internet-facing WordPress websites using the WP Super Edit plugin should be concerned, as the vulnerability is reachable from the internet.

What's the first step if my organization uses WP Super Edit?

If your organization uses WP Super Edit, the immediate first step is to disable or remove the plugin to mitigate the risk of exploitation.

References