A high-risk security flaw was found in the popular *Media Library Assistant* plugin for WordPress. Tracked as CVE-2022-41618, this vulnerability allows unauthenticated users to access detailed error logs. Simply put, *anyone* can see possibly sensitive information without logging in. In this post, we dig deep into how this happens, show direct code samples, demonstrate how attackers can exploit it, and share how site owners should protect themselves.

What is Media Library Assistant?

Media Library Assistant is a WordPress plugin that helps users manage and organize media files. It’s widely used, with tens of thousands of active installations.

Affected Version: 3.00 and below

- CVE: CVE-2022-41618

How Does the Vulnerability Work?

In version 3.00 and earlier, the plugin exposes a script designed to show error logs meant only for admin users. However, there was no proper restriction, and *anyone* could access it by visiting a certain URL.

The endpoint is generally

https://YOUR-SITE.COM/wp-content/plugins/media-library-assistant/includes/mla-log.txt

In the plugin’s code, you might see something like this

// Hypothetical example of log output
$log_file = plugin_dir_path(__FILE__) . 'mla-log.txt';

if (file_exists($log_file)) {
    // No user capability checked here!
    readfile($log_file);
}

> Problem: There's no check like current_user_can('manage_options') or similar.  
> Result: Anyone can load mla-log.txt.

Scan for the plugin directory.

2. Browse to: https://victimsite.com/wp-content/plugins/media-library-assistant/includes/mla-log.txt

If the log file exists, it gets downloaded in plain text.

No authentication at all!

Real-World Proof-of-Concept (PoC)

Step 1: Locate a victim site running vulnerable version.

Step 2: In your browser, visit

https://example.com/wp-content/plugins/media-library-assistant/includes/mla-log.txt

Step 3: If present, the log will download or open directly, showing contents like

[17-Oct-2022 10:43:21 UTC] PHP Warning:  Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /home/site/wp-content/plugins/media-library-assistant/includes/class-mla-core.php on line 1234
[17-Oct-2022 10:45:01 UTC] Database error: Table 'site.wp_mla_table' doesn't exist for query SELECT * FROM wp_mla_table

This can reveal your hosting path, database table names, and code location.

- NVD - CVE-2022-41618
- WPScan Vulnerability Database Entry
- Patchstack Advisory
- Wordfence Threat Report


## How To Fix / Prevent

Update Immediately:

Upgrade to the latest version from the WordPress repository.

Delete any leftover mla-log.txt files in the plugin directory.

Require all denied

Regularly Audit Your Site:

Use security plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri.

Conclusion

CVE-2022-41618 is a critical reminder that even simple logging features can turn into real security threats. If you use the Media Library Assistant plugin, check your version and upgrade ASAP. A single log file can give attackers the clues they need to cause much bigger problems.

*Stay safe, and keep your WordPress site up-to-date!*


*Exclusive post by AI, tailored for clear understanding and actionable takeaways.*

Timeline

Published on: 11/18/2022 23:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 08/07/2023 18:11:00 UTC