CVE-2018-20231 in Two-Factor-Authentication Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross Site Request Forgery (CSRF) in the two-factor-authentication plugin before 1.3.13 for WordPress allows remote attackers to disable 2FA via the tfa_enable_tfa parameter due to missing nonce validation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2020
This cross site request forgery vulnerability exists in the two-factor-authentication plugin for WordPress versions prior to 1.3.13, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the authentication system. The vulnerability specifically affects the tfa_enable_tfa parameter which controls the enablement or disablement of two-factor authentication functionality. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious requests that manipulate this parameter without proper authentication, effectively allowing unauthorized users to disable two-factor authentication for targeted accounts. The absence of nonce validation creates a fundamental security gap where the system fails to verify that requests originate from legitimate administrative actions rather than crafted attacks. This flaw directly violates the principle of authentication and authorization controls that are essential for maintaining system security. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-352 category, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery issues, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.002 for credential access through phishing and social engineering. The impact extends beyond simple account compromise as disabling two-factor authentication significantly weakens the overall security posture of WordPress installations that rely on this plugin for enhanced protection. This vulnerability represents a serious threat to organizations that depend on multi-factor authentication for securing their web applications, as it allows attackers to bypass critical security controls without requiring valid credentials. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and insufficient request verification mechanisms, which are fundamental requirements for secure web application development. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require elevated privileges or complex attack vectors, making it particularly dangerous as it can be executed by remote attackers with minimal technical expertise. This weakness creates a persistent security risk that remains exploitable until the affected plugin is updated to version 1.3.13 or later. Organizations utilizing this plugin are vulnerable to unauthorized account takeovers and security bypass attacks that could lead to complete system compromise. The lack of proper nonce validation means that the system cannot distinguish between legitimate administrative requests and maliciously crafted ones, fundamentally undermining the security model. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of implementing proper request validation and authentication mechanisms in web applications. Security practitioners should immediately assess their WordPress installations for vulnerable plugin versions and implement mitigations including immediate updates, firewall rules, and monitoring for suspicious authentication-related activities. The vulnerability's persistence in the affected versions emphasizes the need for regular security audits and patch management processes to prevent exploitation of known weaknesses in web application components.