Description
The wp_ajax_update_plugin function in wp-admin/includes/ajax-actions.php in WordPress before 4.6 makes a get_plugin_data call before checking the update_plugins capability, which allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended read-access restrictions via the plugin parameter to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php, a related issue to CVE-2016-6896.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | wordpress | 4.6.1+dfsg-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | wordpress | 4.6.1+dfsg-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | wordpress | 4.6.1+dfsg-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | wordpress | No fix yet | — |
References
- 96847 vdb-entry
- [oss-security] 20160820 Path traversal vulnerability in WordPress Core Ajax handlers mailing-list
- https://core.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/38168
- https://sumofpwn.nl/advisory/2016/path_traversal_vulnerability_in_wordpress_core_ajax_handlers.html
- https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/37490