CVE-2017-18607 in avada Theme
Summary
by MITRE
The avada theme before 5.1.5 for WordPress has CSRF.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-18607 represents a cross-site request forgery flaw within the Avada WordPress theme version 5.1.4 and earlier. This security weakness allows attackers to exploit the lack of proper anti-CSRF protections in the theme's administrative interfaces, potentially enabling unauthorized actions to be performed on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability specifically affects WordPress websites utilizing the Avada theme, making it a targeted risk for users who have not updated to the patched version 5.1.5 or later.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of secure token validation mechanisms within the theme's administrative forms and AJAX endpoints. When an authenticated administrator visits a malicious website or clicks on a crafted link, the attacker can trigger unintended administrative actions without the user's knowledge or explicit consent. This occurs because the Avada theme fails to implement proper request validation checks that would verify the authenticity of requests originating from legitimate administrative interfaces. The flaw essentially allows attackers to manipulate the theme's configuration settings, modify content, or perform other administrative functions through forged requests that appear to come from authorized users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data modification, as it can lead to complete compromise of WordPress installations when combined with other attack vectors. An attacker who successfully exploits this CSRF flaw could potentially alter critical theme settings, inject malicious code into the website's frontend, or establish persistent backdoors through theme modifications. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where administrators frequently visit external websites or where users may be tricked into clicking malicious links, as the attack requires no authentication credentials or session hijacking. The potential for privilege escalation exists when the vulnerable theme is used in conjunction with other weaknesses in the WordPress installation or hosting environment.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately upgrade to Avada theme version 5.1.5 or later, which includes proper CSRF token implementation and validation mechanisms. Security administrators should also conduct thorough audits of their WordPress installations to ensure all themes and plugins are updated to their latest secure versions. Additional mitigations include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious CSRF patterns, configuring proper content security policies, and educating administrators about the dangers of visiting untrusted websites while logged into administrative interfaces. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses in web applications, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for credential access through web application attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication and least privilege access controls to reduce the potential impact of successful CSRF exploitation attempts.