WordPress < 2.8.4 Password Reset

medium Nessus Plugin ID 40577

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Synopsis

The remote web server contains a PHP application that is affected by a security bypass vulnerability.

Description

The version of WordPress hosted on the remote web server has a flaw in the password reset mechanism. Validation of the secret user activation key can be bypassed by providing an array instead of a string. This allows anyone to reset the password of the first user in the database, which is usually the administrator. A remote attacker can use this to repeatedly reset the password, leading to a denial of service condition.

Solution

Upgrade to WordPress 2.8.4 or later.

Plugin Details

Severity: Medium

ID: 40577

File Name: wordpress_password_reset.nasl

Version: 1.20

Type: remote

Family: CGI abuses

Published: 8/12/2009

Updated: 6/5/2024

Supported Sensors: Nessus

Enable CGI Scanning: true

Risk Information

VPR

Risk Factor: Medium

Score: 6.6

CVSS v2

Risk Factor: Medium

Base Score: 6.4

Temporal Score: 5

Vector: CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:P

Vulnerability Information

CPE: cpe:/a:wordpress:wordpress

Required KB Items: installed_sw/WordPress, www/PHP

Excluded KB Items: Settings/disable_cgi_scanning

Exploit Ease: No exploit is required

Patch Publication Date: 8/12/2009

Vulnerability Publication Date: 8/10/2009

Reference Information

CVE: CVE-2009-2762

BID: 36014

CWE: 255

Secunia: 36237

Detections

Analytics