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Critical WordPress Flaw Found: Update to 5.0.3 Now

Posted: February 25, 2019 to News.

Tags: Data Breach, Cloud Security, Malware

Updating your WordPress content management software to version 5.0.3 is URGENT! RIPS Technologies told Hacker News of a remote code execution vulnerability that affects all previous versions. That’s over six years of vulnerability. The remote code execution attack can be utilized by any nefarious user with at least an author account via a combination of Path Traversal and Local File Inclusion found in the WordPress core. The attack takes advantage of WordPress’s Post Meta entries in the image management system that are used to store description, size, creator, etc. The attacker can modify any of these entries associated with that image creating the Path Traversal Flaw. According to Hacker News, this Path Traversal flaw in combination with a local file inclusion flaw in theme directory could then allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code on the targeted server. "An attacker who gains access to an account with at least author privileges on a target WordPress site can execute arbitrary PHP code on the underlying server, leading to a full remote takeover," says Simon Scannell, a researcher at RIPS Technologies GmbH Scannell. Though the author account does reduce the severity of the vulnerability, a risk still exists, and the full remote takeover of a vulnerable blog can happen within seconds. Good news for WordPress version 5.0.1 and 4.9.9: the code exclusion attack was blocked by a patch that was introduced after a different vulnerability regarding the Post Meta entries was discovered.

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About the Author

Craig Petronella, CEO and Founder of Petronella Technology Group
CEO, Founder & AI Architect, Petronella Technology Group

Craig Petronella founded Petronella Technology Group in 2002 and has spent more than 30 years working at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, compliance, and digital forensics. He holds the CMMC Registered Practitioner credential (RP-1372) issued by the Cyber AB, is an NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner (License #604180-DFE), and completed MIT Professional Education programs in AI, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity. Craig also holds CompTIA Security+, CCNA, and Hyperledger certifications.

He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author of 15+ books on cybersecurity and compliance, host of the Encrypted Ambition podcast (95+ episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon), and a cybersecurity keynote speaker with 200+ engagements at conferences, law firms, and corporate boardrooms. Craig serves as Contributing Editor for Cybersecurity at NC Triangle Attorney at Law Magazine and is a guest lecturer at NCCU School of Law. He has served as a digital forensics expert witness in federal and state court cases involving cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, SIM-swap attacks, and data breaches.

Under his leadership, Petronella Technology Group has served 2,500+ clients, maintained a zero-breach record among compliant clients, earned a BBB A+ rating every year since 2003, and been featured as a cybersecurity authority on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and WRAL. The company leverages SOC 2 Type II certified platforms and specializes in AI implementation, managed cybersecurity, CMMC/HIPAA/SOC 2 compliance, and digital forensics for businesses across the United States.

CMMC-RP NC Licensed DFE MIT Certified CompTIA Security+ Expert Witness 15+ Books
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