The WordPress developers have released a security update for their blogging platform WordPress, now raised to version 2.8.6. This security release version fixes two vulnerabilities relevant to multi-author blogs. These exploits can only be exploited by registered, logged in users with posting rights. If you have untrusted authors on your blog, upgrading to 2.8.6 is recommended. It is always recommended to update to the latest version of WordPress as soon as possible.
The first problem is an XSS vulnerability in Press This discovered by Benjamin Flesch. The second problem, discovered by Dawid Golunski, is an issue with sanitizing uploaded file names that can be exploited in certain Apache configurations. Thanks to Benjamin and Dawid for finding and reporting these.
Upgrading is available through automatic update in the WordPress admin interface or manually by downloading from the official WordPress website. It is recommended to do a backup of both the WordPress files on the web server and the MySQL database to be ready if the update should fail for any reason.
About Mezanul
This update was really unexpected.. though this update seems to be only for those
who have multi author blogs or is it for every one?
Hello Harsh,
Good to see you back! Yes the update is basically for multi-author blogs as the problem is an XSS vulnerability in Press This found under Tools and an issue with sanitizing uploaded file names that can be exploited in certain Apache configurations. So you can be rest assured that these exploits can only be exploited by a registered, logged in users with posting rights only and not from outside.
But you know its better to be updated and safe than feel sorry later.