CVE-2022-1595: HC Custom WP-Admin URL Info Disclosure

CVE-2022-1595 Overview

CVE-2022-1595 is an Information Leakage vulnerability affecting the HC Custom WP-Admin URL WordPress plugin through version 1.4. The plugin, designed to obscure the default WordPress admin login URL for security purposes, ironically contains a flaw that leaks the secret login URL when a specifically crafted request is sent to the server. This defeats the entire purpose of the security plugin and exposes the hidden admin panel location to potential attackers.

Critical Impact

The secret admin login URL can be discovered by unauthenticated attackers through crafted requests, completely bypassing the security measure the plugin was designed to provide and exposing the WordPress admin panel to brute-force attacks and other login-based threats.

Affected Products

• HC Custom WP-Admin URL plugin versions through 1.4 for WordPress
• WordPress installations using the HC Custom WP-Admin URL plugin

Discovery Timeline

• 2022-06-13 - CVE-2022-1595 published to NVD
• 2024-11-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2022-1595

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability falls under CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor). The HC Custom WP-Admin URL plugin is intended to provide security-through-obscurity by allowing WordPress administrators to change the default /wp-admin and /wp-login.php URLs to custom, secret paths. However, a flaw in how the plugin handles certain requests causes it to inadvertently disclose the configured secret URL.

The vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring any authentication or user interaction. An attacker can send a specially crafted HTTP request to a WordPress site using this plugin and receive the secret admin URL in the response. This completely undermines the security benefit the plugin claims to provide.

Root Cause

The root cause stems from improper handling of specific request patterns by the plugin. When certain crafted requests are processed, the plugin fails to properly sanitize or hide the secret URL configuration, resulting in information disclosure. The plugin does not adequately validate incoming requests before potentially revealing sensitive configuration data, allowing unauthorized actors to extract the hidden administrative URL path.

Attack Vector

The attack can be carried out remotely over the network by any unauthenticated user. The attacker sends a specifically crafted HTTP request to the target WordPress website. Due to the vulnerability, the server responds with information that reveals the secret admin login URL. Once obtained, an attacker can:

1. Direct brute-force attacks against the now-known admin login page
2. Launch targeted credential stuffing attacks
3. Exploit any additional vulnerabilities in the WordPress login mechanism
4. Conduct social engineering attacks using knowledge of the custom URL structure

The vulnerability requires no special privileges or user interaction, making it trivially exploitable by any remote attacker who can reach the WordPress installation.

Detection Methods for CVE-2022-1595

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual HTTP requests probing for plugin-specific endpoints or parameters
• Multiple requests with varied parameters targeting WordPress configuration disclosure
• Access logs showing attempts to enumerate or discover hidden admin URLs
• Unexpected traffic patterns to /wp-admin or custom admin URLs from unknown sources shortly after probe attempts

Detection Strategies

• Monitor web server access logs for crafted requests targeting the HC Custom WP-Admin URL plugin
• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious request patterns
• Review WordPress audit logs for any unauthorized access attempts to admin areas
• Use security plugins to monitor for reconnaissance activity against your WordPress installation

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable comprehensive logging for all WordPress HTTP requests
• Set up alerts for unusual request patterns that may indicate vulnerability probing
• Monitor for sudden increases in login attempts to the admin URL, which may indicate the URL has been discovered
• Regularly review access logs for requests containing unusual parameters or patterns associated with this vulnerability

How to Mitigate CVE-2022-1595

Immediate Actions Required

• Remove or deactivate the HC Custom WP-Admin URL plugin immediately if currently in use
• Implement alternative security measures for protecting WordPress admin access such as IP whitelisting
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all WordPress admin accounts
• Consider using a more robust security plugin that has been actively maintained and audited
• Review access logs for any signs of exploitation or successful URL discovery

Patch Information

No vendor patch information is available in the vulnerability data. The plugin appears to be abandoned or unmaintained through version 1.4. Users should consider this plugin deprecated and seek alternative solutions. For detailed vulnerability information, refer to the WPScan Vulnerability Report.

Workarounds

• Completely remove the HC Custom WP-Admin URL plugin and rely on other security mechanisms
• Implement server-level IP restrictions for WordPress admin access using .htaccess or nginx configuration
• Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to block suspicious requests and protect the admin login
• Use strong, unique passwords combined with two-factor authentication as the primary defense for admin accounts

# Example .htaccess configuration to restrict wp-admin access by IP
<Files wp-login.php>
    Order Deny,Allow
    Deny from all
    Allow from 192.168.1.100
    Allow from 10.0.0.0/8
</Files>

# Or using nginx configuration
location /wp-admin {
    allow 192.168.1.100;
    allow 10.0.0.0/8;
    deny all;
}