How a Single SSRF Changed My Life: My Journey From Logistics Into Cybersecurity
Type: Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability in WordPress XML-RPC functionality, specifically exploiting the pingback.ping method which allows arbitrary external requests from the target server. The vulnerability exists because the XML-RPC pingback system accepts arbitrary URLs without proper validation or restrictions. Exploitation involves accessing the /xmlrpc.php endpoint and sending a POST request with system.listMethods to enumerate available methods, identifying pingback.ping, then crafting a malicious request with attacker-controlled URLs to force the server to make outbound requests. Using webhook.site as a listening endpoint, the attacker sends: POST /xmlrpc.php with XML payload containing pingback.ping method and webhook URL as target, which triggers the server to initiate an HTTP request to the external webhook, confirming the SSRF vulnerability. Impact includes server metadata exposure, potential internal network enumeration, SSRF-based port scanning, access to cloud metadata services (if cloud environment), and demonstration of unauthorized outbound connections from the target infrastructure. Mitigation involves disabling XML-RPC pingback functionality entirely, implementing strict input validation and URL whitelisting for outbound requests, restricting network access to internal resources, configuring firewall rules to prevent arbitrary external connections, and regular security testing of web applications. WordPress administrators can disable XML-RPC via plugins or server configuration if not needed.
#infosec #BugBounty #Cybersecurity #SSRFhttps://medium.com/@jsll/how-a-single-ssrf-changed-my-life-my-journey-from-logistics-into-cybersecurity-e1eba7ff7ce1?source=rss------bug_bounty-5