CVE-2012-10012 in Facebook Like Button
Summary
by MITRE • 04/10/2023
A vulnerability has been found in BestWebSoft Facebook Like Button up to 2.13 and classified as problematic. Affected by this vulnerability is the function fcbk_bttn_plgn_settings_page of the file facebook-button-plugin.php. The manipulation leads to cross-site request forgery. The attack can be launched remotely. The name of the patch is 33144ae5a45ed07efe7fceca901d91365fdbf7cb. It is recommended to apply a patch to fix this issue. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-225355.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-10012 affects the BestWebSoft Facebook Like Button plugin version 2.13 and earlier, representing a significant security weakness that exposes WordPress websites to cross-site request forgery attacks. This vulnerability specifically targets the fcbk_bttn_plgn_settings_page function within the facebook-button-plugin.php file, which serves as the primary interface for managing plugin settings. The flaw allows malicious actors to manipulate the plugin's administrative functions through crafted requests that exploit the lack of proper authentication checks and anti-CSRF protection mechanisms. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can initiate malicious requests from external systems without requiring physical access to the target website or direct user interaction beyond visiting a compromised page.
The technical implementation of this cross-site request forgery vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of request origins and missing anti-CSRF tokens in the plugin's administrative interface. When administrators visit the plugin settings page, the application fails to verify that requests originate from legitimate sources within the same domain, creating an opportunity for attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated users. This weakness directly maps to CWE-352, which defines cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities as those that allow attackers to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users without their knowledge or consent. The vulnerability's classification as a remote attack vector means that no privileged access or local system compromise is required for exploitation, making it particularly dangerous for widespread deployment across multiple websites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to modify plugin configurations, potentially leading to more severe consequences such as data manipulation, unauthorized content changes, or even complete administrative control of affected websites. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to alter Facebook integration settings, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject harmful code into the plugin's functionality. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the Facebook Like Button plugin is commonly used across WordPress installations, making this vulnerability a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns. The vulnerability's presence in the settings page function suggests that attackers could manipulate core plugin behaviors, potentially affecting how social media integration operates on affected websites and undermining user trust in the site's legitimate social features.
Security mitigation for this vulnerability requires immediate implementation of the provided patch identified by the commit hash 33144ae5a45ed07efe7fceca901d91365fdbf7cb, which should be applied to all affected plugin installations. Organizations should also implement additional protective measures including regular security audits of WordPress plugins, enforcement of proper access controls, and monitoring for unauthorized administrative changes. The fix should incorporate proper CSRF token validation and referer header checking to prevent unauthorized modifications to plugin settings. Furthermore, administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious requests attempting to modify plugin configurations, and establish monitoring procedures to identify unauthorized changes to critical website components. This vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and conducting regular vulnerability assessments of third-party plugins, as the ATT&CK framework categorizes such issues under the technique of privilege escalation through web application vulnerabilities, making them particularly attractive targets for threat actors seeking persistent access to compromised systems.