CVE-2019-15781 in facebook-by-weblizar Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The facebook-by-weblizar plugin before 2.8.5 for WordPress has CSRF.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-15781 affects the facebook-by-weblizar plugin for WordPress, specifically versions prior to 2.8.5, and represents a cross-site request forgery flaw that poses significant security risks to affected websites. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-352 category, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery issues in software applications. The facebook-by-weblizar plugin is designed to integrate facebook functionality into wordpress sites, enabling features such as facebook login and social sharing capabilities. However, the absence of proper CSRF protection mechanisms in versions before 2.8.5 creates an exploitable condition where malicious actors can manipulate authenticated users into performing unintended actions on the affected wordpress installation without their knowledge or consent.
The technical flaw stems from the plugin's failure to implement adequate anti-CSRF measures during form submissions and administrative operations. When users with administrative privileges access the plugin's configuration pages or perform actions such as updating settings, modifying facebook integration parameters, or adjusting social sharing configurations, the plugin does not validate the origin of these requests or ensure that they originate from legitimate sources within the same session. This lack of request validation allows attackers to craft malicious requests that, when executed by an authenticated user, can modify plugin settings, potentially leading to unauthorized changes in facebook integration parameters, access control modifications, or other administrative functions. The vulnerability operates by exploiting the trust relationship between the web browser and the wordpress installation, leveraging the fact that browsers automatically include authentication cookies with requests to the same domain.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for wordpress sites utilizing the affected plugin version, as it provides attackers with a means to perform unauthorized administrative actions without requiring valid credentials. An attacker could potentially modify facebook login configurations, alter social sharing settings, or manipulate other plugin-specific parameters that could affect the site's functionality and security posture. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires minimal user interaction to exploit, as users must simply visit a malicious website or click on a crafted link while logged into their wordpress admin panel. This makes the attack vector highly effective and difficult to detect, as the compromised user's legitimate session is leveraged to execute malicious operations. The risk is further amplified when considering that many wordpress administrators may not be aware of the specific plugin versions they are running, making the vulnerability more prevalent than initially apparent.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-15781 primarily focus on immediate remediation through plugin updates to version 2.8.5 or later, which incorporates proper CSRF protection mechanisms. Organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory checks to identify all installations running vulnerable versions of the facebook-by-weblizar plugin and ensure timely updates are deployed across all affected systems. Additionally, implementing additional security measures such as role-based access controls, regular security auditing of installed plugins, and monitoring for unauthorized configuration changes can help reduce the attack surface. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and proper session management practices should also be reinforced to prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining current plugin versions and implementing robust security controls in wordpress environments, as highlighted by ATT&CK framework's application of techniques related to privilege escalation and persistent threats through compromised administrative access. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management solutions to prevent similar vulnerabilities from remaining unaddressed in the future.