CVE-2018-6467 in flickrRSS Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The flickrRSS plugin 5.3.1 for WordPress has CSRF via wp-admin/options-general.php.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2020
The flickrRSS plugin version 5.3.1 for WordPress contains a cross-site request forgery vulnerability that exists within the wp-admin/options-general.php administrative interface. This vulnerability allows an attacker to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users who visit malicious web pages or click on compromised links. The flaw specifically affects the plugin's settings management functionality where configuration changes can be submitted without proper validation of the request origin, making it susceptible to CSRF attacks that could alter the plugin's behavior or configuration parameters.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-352 category of Cross-Site Request Forgery, which represents a significant security weakness in web applications where the application fails to verify that requests originate from legitimate sources. The attack vector exploits the trust relationship between the WordPress admin interface and the user's browser, leveraging the fact that the application does not implement proper anti-CSRF tokens or origin validation mechanisms. When an authenticated administrator visits a malicious site, the attacker can craft requests that automatically submit changes to the flickrRSS plugin configuration through the WordPress admin panel.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes as it could potentially allow attackers to modify the plugin's Flickr API credentials, alter feed settings, or even disable the plugin entirely. An attacker could manipulate the plugin to display malicious content, redirect users to phishing sites, or compromise the integrity of the RSS feed functionality that users rely on for content syndication. The vulnerability affects all WordPress installations running the affected plugin version, particularly those where administrators have administrative privileges and regularly access the WordPress admin interface. This makes it a high-risk vulnerability that could be exploited in targeted attacks against WordPress sites using this specific plugin.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate plugin updates to versions that address the CSRF vulnerability, implementation of proper CSRF token validation mechanisms, and enforcement of the principle of least privilege for administrative accounts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious request patterns, as well as conducting regular security audits of installed plugins to ensure they meet current security standards. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date third-party components and implementing robust input validation controls to prevent unauthorized modifications to administrative settings, aligning with the security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines.