CVE-2017-18544 in invite-anyone Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The invite-anyone plugin before 1.3.16 for WordPress has admin-panel CSRF.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2023
The CVE-2017-18544 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the invite-anyone plugin for WordPress systems. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 1.3.16 and resides within the administrator panel functionality of the plugin. The issue stems from the plugin's failure to implement proper anti-CSRF protection mechanisms when processing administrative actions through web forms and API endpoints. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious web pages or emails that, when visited by an authenticated administrator, automatically submit requests to the vulnerable plugin's administrative interfaces without the user's knowledge or consent.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which categorizes cross-site request forgery as a significant security weakness in web applications. The flaw operates by leveraging the trust relationship between the web application and the authenticated user, allowing malicious actors to perform unauthorized administrative actions on behalf of legitimate users. In the context of WordPress, this could enable attackers to manipulate user invitations, modify plugin settings, or potentially execute other administrative functions that the plugin provides through its interface. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it targets the administrative panel where sensitive configuration changes can be made, potentially leading to complete system compromise or unauthorized access to user data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, as it can facilitate more severe security breaches within WordPress environments. An attacker who successfully exploits this CSRF vulnerability could gain persistent access to the plugin's functionality, potentially enabling them to invite malicious users, alter invitation parameters, or modify administrative settings that could affect the entire website's security posture. The attack vector typically involves social engineering techniques where administrators are tricked into visiting malicious websites or clicking on compromised links while logged into their WordPress admin panels. This vulnerability particularly affects WordPress installations that rely heavily on the invite-anyone plugin for user management and access control, making it a significant concern for organizations that depend on such functionality for their web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-18544 primarily focus on immediate remediation through plugin updates to version 1.3.16 or later, which incorporates proper CSRF protection measures. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management protocols to ensure all WordPress plugins and themes remain current with the latest security fixes. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious cross-site request patterns. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper session management practices can further reduce the attack surface for CSRF vulnerabilities. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments of their WordPress installations to identify and remediate similar issues in other plugins or themes that may lack proper anti-CSRF protections, aligning with the principles of defense in depth as outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks and standards.