CVE-2016-10915 in popup-by-supsystic Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The popup-by-supsystic plugin before 1.7.9 for WordPress has CSRF.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10915 affects the popup-by-supsystic plugin for WordPress systems, specifically versions prior to 1.7.9. This represents a critical security flaw that allows attackers to exploit cross-site request forgery mechanisms within the affected plugin. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient validation of user requests originating from unauthorized sources, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute unintended actions on behalf of authenticated users.
This CSRF vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to implement proper anti-CSRF tokens or validation mechanisms when processing administrative requests. The flaw enables attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to originate from legitimate administrators, thereby bypassing the standard authentication and authorization checks. The technical implementation lacks the necessary cryptographic protections that would ensure request integrity and origin verification.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows attackers to perform administrative actions without proper authorization. An attacker could potentially modify plugin settings, create malicious popups, or manipulate user data through the compromised plugin interface. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it targets WordPress administrative functions, which could lead to complete system compromise if combined with other exploitation techniques. The attack vector requires minimal user interaction, often relying on social engineering to trick administrators into visiting malicious websites.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate plugin updates to version 1.7.9 or later, which contains the necessary CSRF protection mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional network-level protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious request patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery issues in software applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence through web application exploitation, potentially enabling adversaries to establish long-term access to compromised WordPress installations.
Security administrators should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments across all WordPress installations to identify potentially affected plugins and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place. The incident highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date third-party components and implementing comprehensive security monitoring for administrative interfaces. Organizations must also consider implementing additional security controls such as two-factor authentication and role-based access controls to reduce the impact of potential CSRF attacks. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes remain essential practices for maintaining overall system security posture and preventing exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future.