CVE-2019-17230 in OneTone Theme
Summary
by MITRE
includes/theme-functions.php in the OneTone theme through 3.0.6 for WordPress allows unauthenticated options changes.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-17230 affects the OneTone WordPress theme version 3.0.6 and earlier, presenting a critical security flaw that enables unauthenticated attackers to modify theme options. This issue resides within the includes/theme-functions.php file, which serves as a core component of the theme's functionality. The vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls and authentication checks within the theme's administrative functions, allowing any visitor to the website to manipulate theme settings without requiring valid credentials or administrative privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a lack of proper user authentication verification within the theme's option modification endpoints. When users attempt to change theme settings through the WordPress admin interface, the code fails to validate whether the requesting user possesses sufficient privileges to make such modifications. This flaw creates an arbitrary code execution vector where attackers can modify critical theme parameters, potentially leading to complete compromise of the website's appearance and functionality. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through HTTP requests targeting the theme's configuration endpoints.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to WordPress website owners who utilize the affected OneTone theme. Attackers can modify theme options to redirect traffic, inject malicious content, alter website aesthetics to hide malicious activities, or disable critical website features. The unauthenticated nature of the exploit means that any visitor can potentially compromise the site without requiring prior access or credentials, making it particularly dangerous for high-traffic websites. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete website takeover scenarios.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software applications. It also maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001, representing command and control through application layer exploitation, and T1071.001, which covers application layer protocols for communication. Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader attack surface that could lead to further exploitation through privilege escalation or lateral movement within compromised environments. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and access control implementation in web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-17230 include immediate upgrading to OneTone theme version 3.0.7 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the authentication bypass. Website administrators should also implement additional security measures such as monitoring for unauthorized changes to theme options, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting regular security audits of installed themes and plugins. Organizations should establish robust patch management procedures to ensure timely deployment of security updates and maintain comprehensive backup strategies to quickly restore compromised systems. Network segmentation and access control measures can provide additional defense-in-depth layers to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities.