CVE-2018-5656 in weblizar-pinterest-feeds Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in the weblizar-pinterest-feeds plugin 1.1.1 for WordPress. CSRF exists via wp-admin/admin-ajax.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5656 affects the weblizar-pinterest-feeds plugin version 1.1.1 for WordPress, representing a cross-site request forgery flaw that enables unauthorized actions through malicious web pages. This issue resides within the plugin's handling of administrative AJAX requests, specifically through the wp-admin/admin-ajax.php endpoint which serves as a central hub for WordPress administrative functionality. The vulnerability allows attackers to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users without their knowledge or consent, exploiting the lack of proper authentication checks and anti-CSRF token validation mechanisms within the plugin's codebase.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to validate the origin of requests made to the admin-ajax.php endpoint. When a user with administrative privileges visits a malicious website containing crafted requests, the plugin processes these requests without verifying that they originated from legitimate administrative interfaces. This flaw operates under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities in web applications. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the existing administrative privileges of authenticated users, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary actions within the WordPress administration panel.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation to potentially enable complete compromise of affected WordPress installations. An attacker could leverage this CSRF flaw to modify plugin settings, upload malicious files, create new administrative users, or even execute arbitrary code within the WordPress environment. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no privileged access from the attacker, relying instead on social engineering to trick administrators into visiting malicious sites. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1548.002 which covers abuse of cloud infrastructure. The impact is amplified because WordPress administrators often have extensive privileges that can be exploited through such CSRF attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5656 should include immediate plugin updates to versions that address the CSRF vulnerability, as well as implementing additional security controls. Organizations should ensure that all WordPress plugins are kept current with security patches, particularly those that handle administrative functions. The implementation of proper CSRF token validation mechanisms within the plugin's code is essential, requiring the addition of nonce verification for all administrative AJAX requests. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block malicious requests, while security monitoring should track unusual administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security audits of WordPress installations and their plugins should include verification of CSRF protection mechanisms, with specific attention to plugins that handle administrative functions through AJAX endpoints. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of validating request origins and implementing proper authentication checks for all administrative interfaces, particularly those that process AJAX requests in WordPress environments.