📄 Description (English)
The GetContentFromURL plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Server-Side Request Forgery in all versions up to, and including, 1.0. This is due to the plugin using wp_remote_get() instead of wp_safe_remote_get() to fetch content from a user-supplied URL in the 'url' parameter of the [gcfu] shortcode. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Contributor-level access and above, to make web requests to arbitrary locations originating from the web application and can be used to query and modify information from internal services.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
The GetContentFromURL WordPress plugin (versions up to 1.0) contains a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability allowing authenticated contributors and above to make arbitrary web requests from the server. This enables attackers to access internal services, query sensitive data, and potentially modify information on systems accessible from the WordPress server. The vulnerability requires authentication but poses significant risk to organizations using this plugin for content management.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: May 8, 2026 08:19
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
Saudi organizations using WordPress for content management, particularly in government agencies, educational institutions, and media organizations, face significant risk. The vulnerability could allow internal attackers to access SAMA banking systems, NCA government networks, healthcare records, and internal corporate systems. Organizations in the financial sector using WordPress for customer-facing portals are particularly vulnerable, as are government entities managing sensitive citizen data. The SSRF capability enables reconnaissance of internal infrastructure and potential lateral movement within organizational networks.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Government and Public Administration
Banking and Financial Services
Healthcare and Medical Services
Education and Universities
Media and Publishing
Telecommunications
Energy and Utilities
E-commerce and Retail
Insurance
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application
T1133 - External Remote Services
T1021 - Remote Service Session Initiation
T1570 - Lateral Tool Transfer
T1526 - Gather Victim Network Information
T1592 - Gather Victim Host Information
T1040 - Network Sniffing
T1557 - Adversary-in-the-Middle
T1021.001 - Remote Service Session Initiation: Remote Desktop Protocol
T1021.006 - Remote Service Session Initiation: Windows Remote Management
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
7.8
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
1. IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
- Audit all WordPress installations for GetContentFromURL plugin presence
- Restrict [gcfu] shortcode usage to trusted administrators only
- Review user access logs for suspicious URL parameter usage
- Disable the plugin if not actively used
2. PATCHING:
- Update GetContentFromURL plugin to version 1.1 or later immediately
- Verify patch replaces wp_remote_get() with wp_safe_remote_get()
- Test functionality in staging environment before production deployment
3. COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if patch unavailable):
- Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to block [gcfu] shortcode usage
- Use WordPress security plugins to restrict shortcode execution by role
- Implement network segmentation to limit server outbound connections
- Configure firewall rules to restrict outbound HTTP/HTTPS from WordPress servers
4. DETECTION:
- Monitor WordPress logs for [gcfu] shortcode usage with suspicious URLs
- Alert on wp_remote_get() calls to internal IP ranges (10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12, 192.168.0.0/16)
- Track failed authentication attempts followed by contributor-level actions
- Monitor for requests to localhost, 127.0.0.1, or internal service endpoints
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
1. الإجراءات الفورية:
- تدقيق جميع تثبيتات ووردبريس للتحقق من وجود مكون GetContentFromURL
- تقييد استخدام اختصار [gcfu] للمسؤولين الموثوقين فقط
- مراجعة سجلات الوصول للكشف عن استخدام معاملات URL المريبة
- تعطيل المكون إذا لم يكن قيد الاستخدام
2. التصحيح:
- تحديث مكون GetContentFromURL إلى الإصدار 1.1 أو أحدث فوراً
- التحقق من أن التصحيح يستبدل wp_remote_get() بـ wp_safe_remote_get()
- اختبار الوظائف في بيئة التطوير قبل النشر في الإنتاج
3. الضوابط البديلة (إذا لم يكن التصحيح متاحاً):
- تطبيق قواعد جدار الحماية لحجب استخدام اختصار [gcfu]
- استخدام مكونات أمان ووردبريس لتقييد تنفيذ الاختصارات حسب الدور
- تطبيق تقسيم الشبكة لتحديد الاتصالات الصادرة من خوادم ووردبريس
- تكوين قواعد جدار الحماية لتقييد HTTP/HTTPS الصادر من خوادم ووردبريس
4. الكشف:
- مراقبة سجلات ووردبريس لاستخدام اختصار [gcfu] مع عناوين URL المريبة
- التنبيه على استدعاءات wp_remote_get() إلى نطاقات IP الداخلية
- تتبع محاولات المصادقة الفاشلة متبوعة بإجراءات على مستوى المساهم
- مراقبة الطلبات إلى localhost أو نقاط نهاية الخدمات الداخلية
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
A.5.1.1 - Information Security Policies and Procedures
A.6.1.1 - Internal Organization
A.6.2.1 - Mobile Device Management
A.8.1.1 - User Access Management
A.8.2.1 - User Access Rights
A.9.1.1 - Physical and Environmental Security
A.9.2.1 - Equipment Security
A.10.1.1 - Cryptography
A.12.1.1 - Change Management
A.12.2.1 - Monitoring and Logging
A.13.1.1 - Incident Management
🔵 SAMA CSF
Governance - Policy and Risk Management
Governance - Compliance and Audit
Risk Management - Threat and Vulnerability Management
Risk Management - Security Incident Management
Technical - Access Control
Technical - Data Protection
Technical - System and Network Security
Operational - Security Monitoring and Logging
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
5.1 - Policies for information security
6.1 - Information security roles and responsibilities
6.2 - Information security responsibilities of management
8.1 - User endpoint devices
8.2 - Privileged access rights
8.3 - Information access restriction
8.4 - Access to cryptographic keys
8.5 - Physical and logical access control
8.6 - Secret authentication information management
8.7 - Access control for configuration management
8.8 - Issuance of secret authentication information
8.9 - Access rights review
8.10 - Authentication information
9.1 - Audit logging
9.2 - Monitoring
9.3 - Log protection
9.4 - Administrator and operator logs
9.5 - Failure logging
9.6 - Clock synchronization
9.7 - Secure log and record management
10.1 - Event reporting and assessment
10.2 - Incident response and improvement
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
Requirement 1 - Install and maintain a firewall configuration
Requirement 2 - Do not use vendor-supplied defaults
Requirement 6 - Develop and maintain secure systems and applications
Requirement 8 - Identify and authenticate access to system components
Requirement 10 - Track and monitor all access to network resources
Requirement 12 - Maintain a policy that addresses information security
🔗 References & Sources 3
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https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/getcontentfromurl/tags/1.0/classes/shortcode...
security@wordfence.com
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/getcontentfromurl/trunk/classes/shortcode.cl...
security@wordfence.com
https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/b83db6c7-09af-4707-a96b-ee551...
security@wordfence.com