CVE-2012-5387 in White-label-cms
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in wlcms-plugin.php in the White Label CMS plugin before 1.5.1 for WordPress allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that modify the developer name via the wlcms_o_developer_name parameter in a save action to wp-admin/admin.php, as demonstrated by a developer name containing XSS sequences.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2024
The CVE-2012-5387 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the White Label CMS plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.5.1. This vulnerability resides in the wlcms-plugin.php file and creates a significant security risk by allowing remote attackers to exploit the authentication mechanisms of administrators. The flaw operates through a carefully crafted request that targets the wp-admin/admin.php endpoint, leveraging the wlcms_o_developer_name parameter to execute unauthorized modifications. The vulnerability's exploitation demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of WordPress authentication flows and how parameter manipulation can bypass security controls.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the plugin's inadequate validation and authentication checks during the save action process. When administrators access the WordPress admin interface to modify developer settings, the plugin fails to implement proper anti-CSRF tokens or session validation mechanisms. This absence allows attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to originate from legitimate administrators, effectively hijacking their authenticated sessions. The vulnerability becomes particularly dangerous when the wlcms_o_developer_name parameter contains malicious XSS sequences, as it enables attackers to not only modify configuration data but also potentially execute arbitrary scripts within the administrator's browser context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data modification, creating a comprehensive attack surface that can lead to complete administrative compromise. Attackers can leverage this flaw to change critical developer configurations, potentially redirecting user traffic or injecting malicious code into the WordPress installation. The combination of CSRF and XSS capabilities creates a multi-vector attack scenario where initial unauthorized access can escalate to persistent malicious presence within the WordPress environment. This vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing the CSRF category and demonstrating how parameter manipulation can bypass authentication controls.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a prime example of how plugin developers must implement robust anti-CSRF measures to protect WordPress installations. The flaw represents a failure in input validation and session management that aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities. Organizations implementing the White Label CMS plugin should immediately update to version 1.5.1 or later, as this release includes proper CSRF token implementation and enhanced parameter validation. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of the principle of least privilege in WordPress plugin security, where administrative functions should never be executable without proper authentication verification.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-5387 should include immediate plugin updates, implementation of web application firewalls with CSRF detection capabilities, and comprehensive security auditing of WordPress installations. Administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring for unauthorized configuration changes and establish incident response procedures for potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical need for regular security assessments of WordPress plugins and the importance of maintaining current software versions to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to mitigate potential XSS execution that could occur through this vulnerability's exploitation path.