CVE-2016-10938 in copy-me Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The copy-me plugin 1.0.0 for WordPress has CSRF for copying non-public posts to a public location.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10938 resides within the copy-me plugin version 1.0.0 for WordPress, representing a significant security flaw that undermines the integrity of content management within the WordPress ecosystem. This issue manifests as a Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerability specifically targeting the functionality that allows users to copy non-public posts to public locations. The flaw enables malicious actors to manipulate the plugin's behavior without user consent, potentially compromising the confidentiality and access controls that protect sensitive content within WordPress installations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly validate and authenticate requests when executing copy operations from private to public post locations. In WordPress environments, this creates a scenario where an authenticated user visiting a malicious website could unknowingly trigger the copy-me plugin's functionality through a crafted request. The vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles by allowing unauthorized modification of content access levels, effectively bypassing the access control mechanisms that normally protect non-public posts from being exposed to the general public.
From an operational standpoint, this CSRF vulnerability poses substantial risks to WordPress site administrators and content creators who rely on the platform's built-in access control systems. When exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to copy sensitive content from private post locations to public ones, potentially exposing confidential information, draft content, or protected materials that should remain restricted. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can compromise the overall security posture of WordPress installations by undermining the trust model that governs content access and publication within the platform.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications, and corresponds to techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1211 category for "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and T1078 for "Valid Accounts." Organizations using the affected copy-me plugin version should immediately implement mitigations including plugin updates to versions that address the CSRF vulnerability, implementation of proper request validation mechanisms, and consideration of additional security measures such as Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized requests from being executed in the context of authenticated WordPress sessions.