CVE-2016-10989 in leenkme Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The leenkme plugin before 2.6.0 for WordPress has wp-admin/admin.php?page=leenkme_facebook CSRF.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10989 affects the leenkme plugin version 2.5.9 and earlier for WordPress platforms, representing a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the administrative interface. This issue specifically manifests in the wp-admin/admin.php?page=leenkme_facebook endpoint, where the plugin fails to implement proper anti-CSRF protection mechanisms. The vulnerability exists because the plugin does not validate the origin of requests made to its administrative functions, allowing attackers to craft malicious requests that can be executed on behalf of authenticated administrators without their knowledge or consent.
The technical flaw stems from the absence of anti-CSRF tokens or similar validation mechanisms in the plugin's administrative interface. When an administrator visits a malicious website or clicks on a crafted link, the attacker can leverage the administrator's authenticated session to perform unauthorized actions within the leenkme plugin's Facebook integration settings. This vulnerability falls under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate the plugin's configuration settings, potentially enabling them to modify Facebook integration parameters, access sensitive data, or even gain further control over the WordPress installation through the compromised plugin functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for WordPress administrators who have installed the affected leenkme plugin. Attackers can exploit this weakness to execute unauthorized administrative actions, potentially leading to complete compromise of the WordPress site. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the administrative level, meaning that successful exploitation could result in full site takeover, data exfiltration, or the installation of malicious code. The attack vector is relatively simple, requiring only that an administrator clicks on a malicious link or visits a compromised website while logged into their WordPress admin panel, making it a high-risk vulnerability that could be exploited at scale.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate updating of the leenkme plugin to version 2.6.0 or later, where the CSRF protection mechanisms have been implemented. Administrators should also consider implementing additional security measures such as role-based access controls, regular security audits of installed plugins, and monitoring for suspicious administrative activities. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001, which involves the use of command and scripting interpreters, as attackers may leverage the compromised administrative privileges to execute further malicious commands. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring solutions that can detect and prevent CSRF attacks targeting WordPress administrative interfaces, particularly focusing on the specific endpoint mentioned in the vulnerability description.