CVE-2014-3882 in Login rebuilder
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the Login rebuilder plugin before 1.2.0 for WordPress allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of arbitrary users.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2018
The CVE-2014-3882 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the Login rebuilder plugin for WordPress systems. This vulnerability exists in versions prior to 1.2.0 and creates a significant security risk by allowing remote attackers to manipulate authenticated sessions without proper authorization. The flaw specifically targets the authentication mechanism of WordPress installations that utilize this particular plugin, potentially enabling attackers to execute unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of request origins and lack of proper anti-CSRF token mechanisms within the plugin's authentication handling code. When users access certain administrative functions or perform authentication-related operations, the plugin fails to verify that requests originate from legitimate sources within the same domain. This absence of proper origin validation creates an exploitable condition where attackers can craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated users, effectively bypassing standard authentication controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session hijacking, as it enables attackers to perform arbitrary actions within the WordPress environment using compromised user credentials. Successful exploitation could allow unauthorized modifications to user accounts, content manipulation, privilege escalation, or even complete system compromise depending on the victim's user role. The vulnerability particularly affects WordPress sites where the Login rebuilder plugin is installed and actively used, making it a significant concern for website administrators who have not updated to the patched version.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses in web applications. The flaw also corresponds to techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the credential access and privilege escalation domains, where adversaries leverage authentication bypass mechanisms to gain unauthorized access to systems. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching to version 1.2.0 or later, which implements proper CSRF protection measures including anti-CSRF tokens and origin validation checks.
Mitigation strategies should include comprehensive plugin updates across all WordPress installations, implementation of additional security layers such as web application firewalls, and regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other installed plugins. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious authentication patterns, while administrators should implement proper access controls and user privilege management to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping all WordPress components updated and maintaining robust security practices throughout the web application lifecycle.