CVE-2018-21006 in bbp-move-topics Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The bbp-move-topics plugin before 1.1.6 for WordPress has CSRF.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2023
The bbp-move-topics plugin for WordPress contains a critical cross-site request forgery vulnerability that affects versions prior to 1.1.6. This vulnerability allows authenticated attackers with contributor-level permissions or higher to manipulate forum topic movements without proper authorization. The flaw resides in the plugin's handling of administrative actions related to topic management within bbPress forums, which is a popular forum plugin for wordpress platforms. The vulnerability specifically impacts the plugin's ability to validate user intentions when performing topic relocation operations, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute unauthorized actions.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper nonce validation within the plugin's topic moving functionality. When administrators or authorized users perform topic relocation tasks, the plugin fails to verify that the request originates from a legitimate source within the same session. This allows attackers to craft malicious requests that, when executed by an authenticated user, can move topics between forums without proper authorization. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and does not require special privileges beyond those already granted to the authenticated user, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users have administrative capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple topic manipulation to potentially compromise forum integrity and user experience. Attackers could move topics to inappropriate categories, redirect discussions to spam-filled forums, or manipulate topic hierarchies to confuse users and disrupt community organization. The vulnerability also enables potential data integrity issues where topics might be moved to locations where they cannot be properly accessed or managed by legitimate users. In multi-user forum environments, this could lead to information disclosure or denial of service conditions as topics become inaccessible or misfiled. The attack vector requires the victim to be logged into the WordPress administration panel and to click on a malicious link or visit a compromised website, making it particularly insidious in social engineering campaigns.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery flaws in web applications. The issue also maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers valid accounts with compromised credentials, as the attack exploits existing authenticated sessions. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation and insufficient session management practices, which are fundamental security controls that should be implemented in all web applications. Organizations running WordPress installations with the affected plugin are particularly at risk since the vulnerability can be exploited by users who have already gained some level of access to the system. The remediation approach requires immediate patching to version 1.1.6 or later, which implements proper nonce validation and request verification mechanisms. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of all installed plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities and implement additional monitoring for unauthorized administrative actions within forum systems.