#VU41842 Improper Authentication in WordPress - CVE-2014-0166

Vulnerability identifier: #VU41842

Vulnerability risk: Medium

CVSSv4.0: 2.7 [CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/U:Green]

CVE-ID: CVE-2014-0166

CWE-ID: CWE-287

Exploitation vector: Network

Exploit availability: No

Vulnerable software:
WordPress
Web applications / CMS

Vendor: WordPress.ORG

Description

The vulnerability allows a remote non-authenticated attacker to read and manipulate data.

The wp_validate_auth_cookie function in wp-includes/pluggable.php in WordPress before 3.7.2 and 3.8.x before 3.8.2 does not properly determine the validity of authentication cookies, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access via a forged cookie.

Mitigation
Install update from vendor's website.

Vulnerable software versions

WordPress: 0.71, 1.0 - 1.0.2, 1.1.1, 1.2 - 1.2.5, 1.3, 1.3.2, 1.3.3, 1.5 - 1.5.2, 1.6.2, 2.0 - 2.0.11, 2.1 - 2.1.3, 2.2 - 2.2.3, 2.3 - 2.3.3, 2.5 - 2.5.1, 2.6 - 2.6.5, 2.7 - 2.7.1, 2.8 - 2.8.6, 2.9 - 2.9.2, 3.0 - 3.0.6, 3.1 - 3.1.4, 3.2 - 3.2.1, 3.3 - 3.3.3, 3.4.0 - 3.4.2, 3.5.0 - 3.5.1, 3.6 - 3.6.1, 3.7, 3.8 - 3.8.1

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External links
https://codex.wordpress.org/Version_3.7.2
https://codex.wordpress.org/Version_3.8.2
https://core.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/28054
https://www.debian.org/security/2014/dsa-2901
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1085858

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Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

Yes. This vulnerability can be exploited by a remote non-authenticated attacker via the Internet.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

No. We are not aware of malware exploiting this vulnerability.