📄 Description (English)
The HTTP Headers plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to CRLF Injection in all versions up to, and including, 1.19.2. This is due to insufficient sanitization of custom header name and value fields before writing them to the Apache .htaccess file via `insert_with_markers()`. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Administrator-level access and above, to inject arbitrary newline characters and additional Apache directives into the .htaccess configuration file via the 'Custom Headers' settings, leading to Apache configuration parse errors and potential site-wide denial of service.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
The HTTP Headers WordPress plugin (versions ≤1.19.2) contains a CRLF injection vulnerability in the .htaccess file generation mechanism. Authenticated administrators can inject arbitrary Apache directives, causing configuration errors and potential denial of service. While requiring admin-level access, this vulnerability poses significant risk to WordPress installations commonly used by Saudi organizations for web presence and content management.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: May 25, 2026 20:56
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
Saudi organizations using WordPress for government portals, banking websites, e-commerce platforms, and corporate communications are at risk. Most vulnerable sectors include: Government agencies (NCA, CITC, ARAMCO digital platforms), Banking sector (SAMA-regulated institutions), Healthcare providers (MOH systems), Telecommunications (STC, Mobily web services), and E-commerce platforms. The vulnerability requires admin access, limiting risk to insider threats or compromised admin accounts. However, widespread WordPress adoption in Saudi Arabia increases aggregate risk.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Government
Banking
Healthcare
Energy
Telecommunications
E-commerce
Education
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
6.2
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Audit all WordPress installations using HTTP Headers plugin versions ≤1.19.2
2. Restrict administrator account access to trusted personnel only
3. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all WordPress admin accounts
4. Monitor .htaccess file modifications using file integrity monitoring (FIM) tools
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
1. Check plugin repository for version 1.19.3 or later when available
2. If no patch available, disable the HTTP Headers plugin immediately
3. Use alternative header management methods (server-level configuration, alternative plugins with security audits)
COMPENSATING CONTROLS:
1. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect .htaccess modification attempts
2. Use read-only file permissions on .htaccess where possible
3. Enable Apache logging for configuration file access and modifications
4. Implement SIEM alerts for unauthorized .htaccess changes
5. Regular backup and restore testing of WordPress configurations
DETECTION RULES:
1. Monitor WordPress admin panel access logs for suspicious header configuration changes
2. Alert on .htaccess file modifications outside scheduled maintenance windows
3. Log and alert on Apache configuration reload errors
4. Track plugin version changes and disable outdated plugins automatically
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تدقيق جميع تثبيتات WordPress التي تستخدم مكون HTTP Headers بإصدارات ≤1.19.2
2. تقييد وصول حساب المسؤول للموظفين الموثوقين فقط
3. تنفيذ المصادقة متعددة العوامل (MFA) لجميع حسابات مسؤول WordPress
4. مراقبة تعديلات ملف .htaccess باستخدام أدوات مراقبة سلامة الملفات
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. التحقق من مستودع المكون للإصدار 1.19.3 أو أحدث عند توفره
2. إذا لم يكن هناك تصحيح متاح، قم بتعطيل مكون HTTP Headers فوراً
3. استخدام طرق بديلة لإدارة الرؤوس (تكوين على مستوى الخادم، مكونات بديلة مع تدقيق أمني)
الضوابط التعويضية:
1. تنفيذ قواعد جدار حماية تطبيقات الويب (WAF) للكشف عن محاولات تعديل .htaccess
2. استخدام أذونات ملفات للقراءة فقط على .htaccess حيث أمكن
3. تفعيل تسجيل Apache لوصول ملفات التكوين والتعديلات
4. تنفيذ تنبيهات SIEM لتغييرات .htaccess غير المصرح بها
5. الاختبار المنتظم للنسخ الاحتياطية واستعادة تكوينات WordPress
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة سجلات وصول لوحة تحكم WordPress للتغييرات المريبة في تكوين الرؤوس
2. التنبيه على تعديلات ملف .htaccess خارج نوافذ الصيانة المجدولة
3. تسجيل والتنبيه على أخطاء إعادة تحميل تكوين Apache
4. تتبع تغييرات إصدار المكون وتعطيل المكونات القديمة تلقائياً
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
A.5.1.1 - Information security policies and procedures
A.8.1.1 - User access management and authentication
A.12.4.1 - Event logging and monitoring
A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
🔵 SAMA CSF
ID.AM-2 - Software inventory and asset management
PR.AC-1 - Access control and authentication
DE.CM-1 - System monitoring and anomaly detection
RS.MI-2 - Incident response and containment
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.5.1.1 - Information security policies
A.8.1.4 - Access control
A.12.4.1 - Event logging
A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
Requirement 6.2 - Security patches and updates
Requirement 7 - Restrict access to data
Requirement 10 - Logging and monitoring
🔗 References & Sources 5
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https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/http-headers/tags/1.19.2/http-headers.php#L1098
security@wordfence.com
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/http-headers/tags/1.19.2/http-headers.php#L745
security@wordfence.com
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/http-headers/trunk/http-headers.php#L1098
security@wordfence.com
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/http-headers/trunk/http-headers.php#L745
security@wordfence.com
https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/7716e77f-e899-4046-9421-86fc0...
security@wordfence.com