CVE-2019-15650 in stops-core-theme-and-plugin-updates Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The stops-core-theme-and-plugin-updates plugin before 8.0.5 for WordPress has insufficient restrictions on option changes (such as disabling unattended theme updates) because of a nonce check error.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2023
The CVE-2019-15650 vulnerability affects the stops-core-theme-and-plugin-updates plugin for WordPress versions prior to 8.0.5, presenting a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of WordPress update management systems. This vulnerability stems from a fundamental nonce check error that allows unauthorized users to bypass critical access controls designed to protect core WordPress functionality. The plugin's primary purpose is to provide administrators with granular control over automatic updates for WordPress core, themes, and plugins, yet the flawed implementation creates a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate these critical settings without proper authorization.
The technical flaw manifests in the plugin's insufficient validation of nonce tokens during option modification requests. A nonce is a cryptographic token that ensures requests originate from authenticated users with proper privileges, but in this case, the validation mechanism fails to properly verify these tokens before allowing changes to update settings. This vulnerability specifically impacts the ability to disable unattended theme updates and other critical update configurations, effectively allowing attackers to modify WordPress core update behavior through crafted requests. The flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited through standard web application attack vectors, making it particularly dangerous in environments where WordPress is widely deployed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can lead to complete compromise of WordPress installations through unauthorized update management. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to disable important security updates, enable automatic updates of malicious code, or manipulate plugin and theme update behaviors to introduce backdoors or other malicious components. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that remains active until the affected plugin is updated to version 8.0.5 or later, potentially allowing attackers to maintain long-term access to compromised systems while evading detection through legitimate update mechanisms. This flaw aligns with CWE-347, which addresses improper verification of cryptographic signatures or tokens, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for executing malicious code through web applications.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies including immediate plugin updates to version 8.0.5 or later, implementing additional access controls for WordPress administration interfaces, and monitoring for unauthorized changes to update settings. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by restricting access to WordPress administrative endpoints. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of all WordPress installations to identify potentially affected plugins and ensure proper nonce validation mechanisms are in place across all custom implementations. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper authentication and authorization controls in web applications, particularly those managing critical system functions, and serves as a reminder of the potential consequences when cryptographic verification mechanisms are improperly implemented.