CVE-2016-10883 in simple-add-pages-or-posts Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The simple-add-pages-or-posts plugin before 1.7 for WordPress has CSRF for deleting users.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10883 affects the simple-add-pages-or-posts plugin for WordPress systems prior to version 1.7. This issue represents a critical cross-site request forgery vulnerability that specifically targets user deletion functionality within the WordPress administrative interface. The flaw exists in how the plugin handles user management operations, creating a pathway for authenticated attackers to manipulate user accounts without proper authorization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to implement proper CSRF protection mechanisms when processing user deletion requests. In WordPress environments, CSRF protection typically involves the use of nonce tokens that verify the authenticity of requests originating from legitimate administrative sessions. However, the simple-add-pages-or-posts plugin does not adequately validate these tokens or implement proper session verification for user deletion operations, allowing malicious actors to craft forged requests that appear to originate from authorized administrators.
This vulnerability operates within the broader context of WordPress plugin security where third-party extensions often lack the same security rigor as core platform components. The impact extends beyond simple user deletion to potentially compromise the entire WordPress installation's user management system. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to remove administrator accounts, thereby gaining unauthorized access to the administrative interface and potentially escalating their privileges within the system.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are significant for WordPress administrators and security teams. An attacker who successfully exploits this CSRF flaw could systematically remove user accounts, disrupt service availability, or create backdoor access points by deleting accounts and then re-adding them with compromised credentials. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery issues in software applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 related to Valid Accounts and T1566.001 for Phishing as part of the initial compromise phase.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to version 1.7 or later of the simple-add-pages-or-posts plugin to address this vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring of user management activities within their WordPress installations and ensure that all plugins undergo regular security auditing. The remediation process should include verifying that all user management operations within WordPress utilize proper nonce validation and that session management protocols are properly enforced across all administrative interfaces.