CVE-2017-9064 in WordPress
Summary
by MITRE
In WordPress before 4.7.5, a Cross Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability exists in the filesystem credentials dialog because a nonce is not required for updating credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9064 represents a critical cross site request forgery weakness in WordPress versions prior to 4.7.5. This flaw specifically affects the filesystem credentials dialog functionality that WordPress employs when it needs to verify access credentials for file system operations such as plugin installations or theme updates. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper nonce validation within this critical administrative interface, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's trust model.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within WordPress's core credential handling mechanisms where the system fails to require a valid cryptographic nonce for credential updates. A nonce in web security contexts serves as a time-sensitive token that ensures requests originate from legitimate sources and prevents unauthorized operations. Without this protection, an attacker can craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated users, potentially allowing unauthorized modification of critical system credentials. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-352, which defines Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses, and represents a failure in implementing proper request validation controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it could enable attackers to gain persistent access to WordPress installations through manipulation of file system permissions and access controls. An attacker who successfully exploits this CSRF vulnerability could potentially escalate privileges, modify core system files, or establish backdoors within the WordPress environment. This weakness particularly affects WordPress installations that rely on filesystem credentials for operations such as automatic plugin updates, theme modifications, or core WordPress file system interactions, making it a significant concern for administrators managing multiple sites or those with elevated privileges.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1546 which covers exploitation for privilege escalation. The lack of nonce validation creates an attack surface that allows adversaries to perform authenticated operations without proper authorization. Organizations should immediately implement the recommended security patches to WordPress version 4.7.5 or later, which properly implements nonce validation for credential updates. Additional mitigations include implementing web application firewalls, monitoring for unusual credential update activities, and ensuring that WordPress installations are regularly updated with security patches. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper session management and request validation in web applications, particularly in administrative interfaces where sensitive operations can be performed.