CVE-2013-2700 in WP125
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the Add/Edit page (adminmenus.php) in the WP125 plugin before 1.5.0 for WordPress allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that add or edit an ad via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2022
The CVE-2013-2700 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw in the WP125 plugin for WordPress systems. This vulnerability specifically affects the adminmenus.php file used for adding and editing advertisements within the plugin's administrative interface. The issue exists in versions prior to 1.5.0 and creates a significant security risk by allowing remote attackers to exploit the authentication mechanisms of administrator accounts. The vulnerability operates through unspecified attack vectors that enable malicious actors to manipulate administrative functions without proper authorization, potentially leading to unauthorized modifications of advertisement content.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF protection mechanisms within the WP125 plugin's administrative pages. When administrators access the add/edit functionality through adminmenus.php, the plugin fails to validate the origin of requests or implement token-based authentication controls that would prevent unauthorized requests from being processed. This design flaw allows attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to originate from legitimate administrative sessions, exploiting the trust relationship between the web application and authenticated users. The vulnerability specifically targets the administrative interface where users can modify advertisement data, making it particularly dangerous for website administrators who maintain advertising content through this plugin.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data modification, as it creates opportunities for more severe security breaches within WordPress environments. Attackers could leverage this CSRF flaw to inject malicious advertisements, modify existing ad content to redirect users to phishing sites, or potentially execute other malicious activities within the compromised administrative context. The vulnerability affects the integrity of advertisement management systems and could lead to reputation damage for websites using the WP125 plugin. Additionally, the compromise of administrative functions may provide attackers with access to other sensitive data within the WordPress environment, as administrative privileges often grant access to broader system functionalities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in web applications.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including updating to WP125 plugin version 1.5.0 or later, which contains the necessary CSRF protection mechanisms. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious cross-site request patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and authentication controls in web application development, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's web application exploitation techniques. Security monitoring should focus on identifying unauthorized administrative activities and unusual patterns in advertisement modification requests, as these could indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes remain essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from compromising web applications and maintaining the overall security posture of digital environments.