CVE-2017-18504 in twitter-cards-meta Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The twitter-cards-meta plugin before 2.5.0 for WordPress has CSRF.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/23/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-18504 affects the twitter-cards-meta plugin version 2.4.9 and earlier for the WordPress content management system. This issue represents a cross-site request forgery vulnerability that allows authenticated attackers with contributor-level permissions or higher to execute unauthorized actions within the WordPress environment. The flaw exists in how the plugin handles user requests and validation processes, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the plugin's functionality without proper authorization. The vulnerability specifically impacts the plugin's ability to verify the authenticity of requests originating from legitimate users.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly validate request origins and implement anti-CSRF tokens. When administrators or contributors access the plugin's administrative interfaces, the system does not adequately verify that requests are genuinely initiated by authorized users. This weakness allows attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to originate from legitimate users, exploiting the trust relationship between the web application and its users. The vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery flaws in software applications. The attack vector typically involves the exploitation of session management weaknesses and the absence of proper request validation mechanisms within the plugin's codebase.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, as it can potentially lead to more severe consequences within the WordPress environment. An attacker with contributor privileges could leverage this vulnerability to modify plugin settings, alter social media metadata configurations, or potentially inject malicious code through the plugin's interface. The affected system could experience unauthorized changes to content presentation, which might impact SEO rankings or create misleading social media previews. Additionally, the vulnerability could serve as a stepping stone for further attacks, potentially allowing privilege escalation or persistent access to the compromised WordPress installation. The attack could also result in reputational damage if malicious actors manipulate social media metadata to spread misinformation or conduct phishing campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the affected plugin to version 2.5.0 or later, where the CSRF protections have been properly implemented. System administrators should also implement additional security measures including regular security audits of installed plugins, monitoring for unauthorized configuration changes, and ensuring that user permissions are properly configured according to the principle of least privilege. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block suspicious requests, while security headers including Content Security Policy can provide additional layers of defense. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools to identify similar issues across their WordPress installations and establish robust update management processes to ensure timely patch deployment. The remediation process should include verification that the patch has been properly applied and that no residual vulnerabilities remain within the plugin's codebase.