CVE-2019-6027 in WP Spell Check
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in WP Spell Check 7.1.9 and earlier allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2024
The CVE-2019-6027 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw affecting WP Spell Check plugin versions 7.1.9 and earlier. This vulnerability resides within the WordPress ecosystem and specifically targets the administrative authentication mechanisms of the affected plugin. The flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate authenticated sessions without possessing valid credentials, creating a significant security risk for WordPress sites utilizing this particular plugin version. The vulnerability's classification as CSRF stems from its ability to trick authenticated users into executing unintended actions on a web application where they are currently authenticated. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that the attack could potentially occur through various means including crafted links, malicious web pages, or manipulated form submissions that leverage the user's existing session cookies.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the lack of proper anti-CSRF token validation within the WP Spell Check plugin's administrative interfaces. When administrators interact with the plugin's functionality, the system should verify that requests originate from legitimate sources within the authenticated session. However, the flaw allows attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated users, effectively bypassing the session validation mechanisms. This weakness typically occurs when the application fails to implement or properly validate CSRF tokens, which are essential cryptographic elements designed to prevent unauthorized commands from being executed on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the authentication state of administrative users, making it particularly dangerous as it can potentially lead to complete administrative control over affected WordPress installations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or modification, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary administrative actions within the compromised WordPress environment. Successful exploitation could result in complete takeover of the affected website, allowing attackers to modify content, install malicious plugins, change user permissions, or even establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects the integrity and availability of the web application, as attackers can manipulate the plugin's functionality to perform unauthorized operations. Additionally, since this affects the administrative interface, it compromises the principle of least privilege and can lead to privilege escalation attacks. The potential for widespread impact exists because the vulnerability affects WordPress sites that have not updated to the patched version of the plugin, creating a large attack surface across numerous websites.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-6027 primarily focus on immediate plugin updates to versions that address the CSRF implementation flaw. Administrators should prioritize updating WP Spell Check to the latest available version that includes proper CSRF token validation mechanisms. Security hardening measures should include implementing additional authentication layers such as two-factor authentication and role-based access controls to limit the impact if a CSRF attack were to succeed. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block suspicious requests attempting to exploit the CSRF vulnerability. Regular security audits and monitoring of plugin integrity are essential practices that should be implemented to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery flaws, and represents a common pattern in web application security that can be mitigated through proper input validation and token implementation. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege and regularly reviewing user permissions to minimize potential damage from successful attacks. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and credential access techniques, highlighting its potential for broader compromise within the affected systems.