CVE-2018-21013 : Security Advisory and Response

The Swape theme prior to version 1.2.1 for WordPress has a flaw in its access control mechanism that can be exploited to create new administrator accounts.

Understanding CVE-2018-21013

The vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate xmlPath to access wp-admin/admin-ajax.php, leading to unauthorized administrator account creation.

What is CVE-2018-21013?

The Swape theme before version 1.2.1 for WordPress suffers from incorrect access control, enabling the unauthorized creation of administrator accounts.

The Impact of CVE-2018-21013

This vulnerability can be exploited to create new administrator accounts, potentially granting attackers unauthorized access and control over the WordPress site.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-21013

The technical aspects of the vulnerability are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in the Swape theme's access control mechanism allows attackers to exploit xmlPath to create new administrator accounts.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected System: WordPress with Swape theme prior to version 1.2.1
Affected Version: Swape theme before 1.2.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can leverage vectors involving xmlPath to access wp-admin/admin-ajax.php, enabling the creation of unauthorized administrator accounts.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2018-21013, the following steps are recommended:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Swape theme to version 1.2.1 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor administrator account creation for any suspicious activity.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update themes and plugins to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement strong access control measures to prevent unauthorized account creation.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches promptly to ensure protection against known vulnerabilities.