CVE-2012-10015 in Twitter Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/31/2023
A vulnerability was found in BestWebSoft Twitter Plugin up to 2.14 on WordPress. It has been classified as problematic. Affected is the function twttr_settings_page of the file twitter.php of the component Settings Page. The manipulation leads to cross-site request forgery. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. Upgrading to version 2.15 is able to address this issue. The name of the patch is a6d4659cbb2cbf18ccb0fb43549d5113d74e0146. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. VDB-230154 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-10015 affects the BestWebSoft Twitter Plugin version 2.14 and earlier implementations within WordPress environments, representing a critical cross-site request forgery weakness that exposes WordPress sites to potential exploitation. This vulnerability resides within the twttr_settings_page function located in the twitter.php file, specifically within the Settings Page component of the plugin. The flaw enables malicious actors to manipulate the plugin's administrative interface through forged requests, potentially compromising the integrity of the WordPress installation and its associated social media integration functionality.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper validation mechanisms within the plugin's settings page handler. When administrators access the Twitter plugin configuration interface, the application fails to implement anti-CSRF tokens or other protective measures that would verify the authenticity of the request origin. This omission allows attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to originate from legitimate administrative sessions, exploiting the trust relationship between the browser and the WordPress application. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or direct network proximity to execute the attack, making it particularly dangerous in public-facing web environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, potentially enabling attackers to modify Twitter integration settings, access sensitive configuration data, or even execute unauthorized administrative actions within the WordPress environment. This weakness can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, allowing threat actors to establish persistence within the WordPress installation or to escalate privileges through further exploitation of the compromised plugin. The vulnerability affects all WordPress installations using the affected plugin version, creating widespread exposure across numerous websites that rely on BestWebSoft's Twitter integration functionality.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this issue under T1212, which involves exploitation of software vulnerabilities through the manipulation of web application interfaces. The patch referenced in the advisory, identified by the commit hash a6d4659cbb2cbf18ccb0fb43549d5113d74e0146, implements proper CSRF token validation mechanisms that would prevent unauthorized modifications to the plugin's settings page. Organizations should prioritize immediate upgrade to version 2.15 or later, as this represents the most effective mitigation strategy for eliminating the vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should conduct thorough security audits of their WordPress installations to identify any other potentially vulnerable plugins or components that may require similar remediation efforts.