CVE-2016-20103 Cherry Team CVE debrief

Who should care

Defenders responsible for WordPress installations with the Cherry Plugin should assess exposure and prioritize verification and remediation. This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to download arbitrary files, potentially leading to sensitive information disclosure.

Why it matters

The CVE-2016-20103 vulnerability in the Cherry Plugin for WordPress allows unauthenticated attackers to download arbitrary files via path traversal. Defenders should prioritize verifying and updating the plugin, restricting access to the vulnerable script, and monitoring for suspicious activity.

• Potential sensitive information disclosure due to arbitrary file download
• Possible exploitation by unauthenticated attackers
• Requires verification of affected scope and remediation priority

Technical summary

The Cherry Plugin for WordPress before version 1.2.7 contains a path traversal vulnerability in the /admin/import-export/download-content.php script. The vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to download arbitrary files via the 'file' parameter. The script passes input directly to readfile(), allowing attackers to read database credentials by sending GET requests with traversal sequences like ../../../../../wp-config.php.

Defensive priority

Defenders should prioritize verifying and updating the Cherry Plugin for WordPress to version 1.2.7 or later, and restrict access to the /admin/import-export/download-content.php script.

Recommended defensive actions

• Verify and update the Cherry Plugin for WordPress to version 1.2.7 or later
• Restrict access to the /admin/import-export/download-content.php script
• Monitor for suspicious activity on the /admin/import-export/download-content.php script
• Perform vulnerability scanning to identify potentially exposed assets
• Review access controls for the /admin/import-export/download-content.php script
• Implement additional logging and monitoring for the affected plugin
• Track remediation progress and verify fixes

Evidence notes

The vulnerability was first observed by the Shadowserver Foundation on 2023-10-19. The CVE record and NVD entry provide details on the vulnerability, but the current exploitation status and affected scope require verification from the supplied official sources.

Sources and references

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.