CVE-2017-1002016
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in the Flickr Picture Backup WordPress plugin allows unauthenticated attackers to upload arbitrary files to affected websites. Any WordPress site running version 0.7 of this plugin is vulnerable to complete compromise.
💻 Affected Systems
- Flickr Picture Backup WordPress Plugin
📦 What is this software?
Flickr Picture Backup by Flickr Picture Backup Project
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete server takeover via remote code execution by uploading malicious PHP files, leading to data theft, defacement, or ransomware deployment.
Likely Case
Website defacement, malware injection, or backdoor installation for persistent access.
If Mitigated
No impact if proper authentication checks are in place or plugin is disabled.
🎯 Exploit Status
Simple HTTP POST request to upload arbitrary files without authentication.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: None
Vendor Advisory: https://wordpress.org/plugins/flickr-picture-backup/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel
2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins
3. Find 'Flickr Picture Backup'
4. Click 'Deactivate' then 'Delete'
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Plugin via Filesystem
linuxManually rename plugin directory to disable it
mv /path/to/wp-content/plugins/flickr-picture-backup /path/to/wp-content/plugins/flickr-picture-backup.disabled
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block requests to flickr-picture-download.php
- Restrict file uploads at server level using .htaccess or nginx rules
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if /wp-content/plugins/flickr-picture-backup/flickr-picture-download.php exists and plugin is activeCheck Version:
grep -r 'Version:' /path/to/wp-content/plugins/flickr-picture-backup/Verify Fix Applied:
Verify plugin is removed from /wp-content/plugins/ directory and not listed in active plugins📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- POST requests to /wp-content/plugins/flickr-picture-backup/flickr-picture-download.php
- File uploads to unusual directories
Network Indicators:
- HTTP traffic to flickr-picture-download.php endpoint without authentication
SIEM Query:
source="web_logs" AND uri="*flickr-picture-download.php*" AND method="POST"