Fake WordPress Patch Plugin Phishing Scam Tricks Users Into Installing Backdoor Plugin on WordPress

by nativetechdoctor
1 minutes read

Wordfence has reported a phishing campaign targeting WordPress users with an email claiming to be from the WordPress team and warning of a remote code execution vulnerability with the identifier CVE-2023-45124. However, this identifier is not a valid CVE. The email prompts the victim to download and install a “Patch” plugin.

credit:wordfence

but instead, it redirects victims to a convincing fake landing page at en-gb-wordpress[.]org. It is recommended to be cautious and not download or install any suspicious plugins.

credit:wordfence

The plugin, disguised as a security update, is installed with a slug of “wpress-security-wordpress” and adds a malicious administrator user with the username “wpsecuritypatch”. The plugin sends the site URL and generated password for this user back to a C2 domain, wpgate[.]zip. Additionally, the plugin downloads a separate backdoor, wp-autoload.php, from the C2 domain and saves it in the webroot. This backdoor includes a hardcoded password and provides a file manager, SQL client, PHP console, and command line terminal, as well as displaying server environment information.

credit:wordfence

This vulnerability allows attackers to maintain access to the WordPress site and server even after a successful login attempt. This can lead to full control over the site and server, posing a significant security risk.

Source: wordfence

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