CVE-2016-10978 in fossura-tag-miner Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The fossura-tag-miner plugin before 1.1.5 for WordPress has CSRF.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2023
The fossura-tag-miner plugin for WordPress contains a cross-site request forgery vulnerability that affects versions prior to 1.1.5, representing a significant security weakness in the content management system ecosystem. This vulnerability allows attackers to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users who visit malicious websites or click on compromised links, potentially leading to unauthorized modifications of plugin settings or data manipulation within the WordPress environment. The flaw resides in the plugin's failure to implement proper anti-CSRF measures during critical operations, making it susceptible to exploitation by threat actors who can craft malicious requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress application.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of anti-CSRF tokens in the plugin's administrative interfaces and form submissions. When users access the plugin's configuration pages or perform administrative tasks, the system does not validate that requests originate from legitimate sources within the same session. This design flaw enables attackers to create malicious web pages that automatically submit requests to the vulnerable WordPress installation, leveraging the victim's authenticated session to execute unintended actions without their knowledge or consent. The vulnerability specifically impacts the plugin's ability to authenticate and validate user intent during critical operations, creating an attack surface that aligns with common web application security weaknesses classified under CWE-352.
The operational impact of this CSRF vulnerability extends beyond simple data modification, as it can potentially allow attackers to escalate privileges or compromise the entire WordPress installation through the compromised plugin. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to change plugin configurations, inject malicious code, or even gain access to sensitive data stored within the plugin's functionality. The attack vector typically involves social engineering tactics where users are tricked into visiting malicious websites or clicking on compromised links that automatically submit requests to the vulnerable WordPress site. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper session management and request validation mechanisms, particularly for plugins that handle sensitive administrative functions and user data.
Mitigation strategies for this CSRF vulnerability require immediate plugin updates to version 1.1.5 or later, which incorporates proper anti-CSRF token implementation and request validation. System administrators should conduct thorough security audits of all installed WordPress plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities and ensure that all third-party components implement adequate security measures. The remediation process should include verifying that all administrative forms and AJAX endpoints utilize unique, unpredictable tokens that are validated server-side before processing any user-initiated actions. Organizations should also implement network-level protections such as web application firewalls and monitor for suspicious activities related to plugin access patterns, while adhering to security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST guidelines for web application security. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for proper input validation and session management in web applications, particularly those handling user authentication and administrative functions.