CVE-2019-9048 in Pluck
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Pluck 4.7.9-dev1. There is a CSRF vulnerability that can delete a theme (aka topic) via a /admin.php?action=theme_delete&var1= URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9048 affects Pluck content management system version 4.7.9-dev1, representing a cross-site request forgery flaw that allows unauthorized deletion of themes or topics within the administrative interface. This issue stems from the application's insufficient validation of HTTP request origins and lack of proper anti-CSRF token implementation in the theme deletion functionality. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it operates through a straightforward URI manipulation pattern where an attacker can construct a malicious request that targets the specific endpoint /admin.php?action=theme_delete&var1=, which when executed by an authenticated administrator, results in the removal of the specified theme or topic from the system.
The technical exploitation of this CSRF vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious web page or email attachment that, when visited or opened by an authenticated administrator, automatically submits a request to the vulnerable Pluck application. The attack leverages the fact that the application does not validate whether the request originates from the legitimate administration interface or from an external malicious source. This flaw directly maps to CWE-352, which defines Cross-Site Request Forgery as a vulnerability where an attacker tricks a victim into performing actions they did not intend to execute. The vulnerability exists because the application fails to implement proper request origin verification mechanisms or anti-CSRF tokens that would ensure requests are genuinely initiated by the authenticated user within the legitimate application context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple theme removal, as it represents a potential vector for more severe administrative compromise. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can manipulate the application's appearance and functionality by deleting themes, potentially rendering the website inaccessible or forcing administrators to restore from backups. The attack scenario typically involves social engineering tactics where administrators are tricked into visiting malicious websites or opening compromised email attachments that contain embedded requests to the Pluck administration interface. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1566 which covers credential harvesting, as the exploitation requires an authenticated session to be effective. The damage potential increases if the attacker can delete core themes that are essential for the website's functionality, leading to service disruption and potential data recovery requirements.
Mitigation strategies for this CSRF vulnerability should focus on implementing robust anti-CSRF protection mechanisms within the Pluck application. The most effective approach involves adding unique, unpredictable tokens to each administrative request that are validated server-side before processing any destructive operations. These tokens should be generated per session and tied to the user's authentication context, ensuring that any request attempting to delete themes or perform similar administrative actions must contain a valid token that matches the user's current session. Additionally, implementing proper HTTP header validation and Origin header checking can provide additional defense layers. The application should also enforce strict input validation on the var1 parameter to prevent potential path traversal or other injection attacks that could compound the vulnerability. Security patches should be prioritized for this issue, as the vulnerability affects the core administrative functionality and represents a direct threat to application integrity and availability. Organizations using Pluck should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious administrative requests to detect potential exploitation attempts.