CVE-2020-6167 in Minimal Coming Soon
Summary
by MITRE
A flaw in the WordPress plugin, Minimal Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode through 2.10, allows a CSRF attack to enable maintenance mode, inject XSS, modify several important settings, or include remote files as a logo.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-6167 resides within the Minimal Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode WordPress plugin version 2.10 and earlier, presenting a critical security risk through a cross-site request forgery flaw that undermines the integrity of website configurations. This vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user requests, particularly in the plugin's administrative interfaces where CSRF tokens are either missing or improperly implemented, allowing attackers to execute unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. The flaw operates by exploiting the trust relationship between the web application and the user, enabling malicious actors to manipulate plugin settings without proper authorization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate critical plugin functionalities through crafted requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress administrative system. Specifically, the flaw enables unauthorized activation of maintenance mode, which can disrupt service availability and potentially provide attackers with a means to hide their activities. Additionally, the vulnerability permits cross-site scripting injection through manipulated settings, creating opportunities for attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of the victim's browser. The attack surface extends to remote file inclusion capabilities when attackers manipulate logo settings, allowing them to reference external malicious resources that could serve malware or exfiltrate data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete compromise of the website's administrative capabilities. Attackers can manipulate essential settings such as login credentials, contact information, and website appearance configurations, potentially leading to full site takeover. The maintenance mode activation capability provides attackers with a method to temporarily disable normal website functionality while they establish persistence or conduct data exfiltration activities. The XSS injection capability creates persistent threats that can affect all users who visit the compromised site, potentially leading to credential theft, session hijacking, or further exploitation through browser-based attacks. The remote file inclusion vulnerability presents additional attack vectors for delivering malware or establishing command and control channels.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, and demonstrates how insufficient anti-CSRF measures can lead to privilege escalation and unauthorized modifications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1071 for application layer protocol, as attackers can leverage the compromised plugin to execute malicious code and establish persistent access. The vulnerability also intersects with T1566 for credential harvesting, as the XSS capabilities can be used to capture user credentials from the compromised site.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate plugin updates to versions that address the CSRF implementation gaps, proper validation of all administrative requests, and implementation of robust anti-CSRF token mechanisms. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of all installed plugins and themes to identify similar vulnerabilities, particularly those that modify critical system settings or handle user input. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in administrative requests, and access controls should be reviewed to ensure proper authorization mechanisms are in place. Regular security audits and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify and remediate similar issues across the entire WordPress installation and associated systems.