CVE-2019-14680 in admin-renamer-extended Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The admin-renamer-extended (aka Admin renamer extended) plugin 3.2.1 for WordPress allows wp-admin/plugins.php?page=admin-renamer-extended/admin.php CSRF.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-14680 affects the admin-renamer-extended WordPress plugin version 3.2.1, presenting a cross-site request forgery weakness that could enable unauthorized administrative actions. This issue resides within the plugin's administrative interface where the csrf token validation is insufficient or absent, allowing attackers to manipulate the plugin's functionality through maliciously crafted requests. The vulnerability specifically impacts the wp-admin/plugins.php?page=admin-renamer-extended/admin.php endpoint, which serves as the primary administrative interface for the plugin's configuration and management functions.
The technical flaw manifests as a missing or inadequate CSRF protection mechanism within the plugin's administrative pages, making it susceptible to attacks where an authenticated administrator could unknowingly execute malicious operations. This occurs because the plugin fails to properly validate the referer header or implement proper anti-CSRF tokens for critical administrative functions. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and insufficient session management practices, which are categorized under CWE-352, Cross-Site Request Forgery. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform unauthorized administrative actions such as renaming admin accounts, modifying plugin configurations, or potentially gaining elevated privileges within the WordPress installation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes, as it could lead to complete administrative compromise of the affected WordPress site. An attacker who successfully exploits this CSRF vulnerability could modify user roles, create new administrator accounts, or manipulate the plugin's core functionality to establish persistent access. The attack requires a logged-in administrator to visit a malicious page or click on a crafted link, but once executed, the consequences can be severe as it undermines the fundamental security model of WordPress administrative interfaces. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, Valid Accounts - Cloud Accounts, as it could potentially be used to maintain access through administrative account manipulation.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate plugin updates to versions that address the CSRF protection deficiencies, as the vendor likely released a patched version that implements proper token validation and referer checking mechanisms. Administrators should also implement additional security measures such as role-based access controls, regular security audits of installed plugins, and monitoring of administrative activities. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper session management practices can further reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious CSRF patterns, and maintain regular backup procedures to ensure quick recovery in case of successful exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper security testing during plugin development and the necessity of maintaining up-to-date software components to prevent exploitation of known weaknesses.