CVE-2021-25073 in WP125 Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/24/2022
The WP125 WordPress plugin before 1.5.5 does not have CSRF checks in various action, for example when deleting an ad, allowing attackers to make a logged in admin delete them via a CSRF attack
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-25073 affects the WP125 WordPress plugin version 1.5.4 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of WordPress administrative operations. This issue stems from the absence of Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) protection mechanisms within the plugin's administrative interfaces, specifically in actions related to ad management. The vulnerability allows authenticated attackers to execute unauthorized administrative actions without proper user consent or verification, creating a significant risk to WordPress sites that rely on this plugin for advertising management.
The technical flaw manifests in the plugin's failure to implement proper CSRF token validation during critical administrative operations such as ad deletion. When an administrator visits a malicious website or clicks on a crafted link while authenticated to a WordPress site using the vulnerable WP125 plugin, the attacker can trigger administrative actions without the admin's knowledge or explicit consent. This occurs because the plugin does not verify the authenticity of requests originating from the WordPress admin interface, relying instead on the assumption that all requests are legitimate. The absence of CSRF protection creates a pathway for attackers to manipulate the plugin's functionality, potentially leading to unauthorized modifications or deletions of advertising content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, as it can compromise the entire advertising infrastructure managed by the plugin. Attackers could delete critical advertisements, potentially causing revenue loss for site owners, or worse, manipulate ad placements to redirect traffic to malicious destinations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no special privileges beyond having access to a victim's authenticated WordPress session, making it exploitable through social engineering techniques or by compromising user sessions through other means. This makes the attack surface significantly broader, as the vulnerability can be exploited through various vectors including phishing campaigns or compromised websites that users visit while logged into WordPress admin panels.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery flaws in web applications, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and proper authentication verification. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this issue under privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to administrative functions without detection. Organizations using the affected plugin should immediately implement mitigations including updating to version 1.5.5 or later, which includes proper CSRF token implementation, and conducting thorough security audits of all installed plugins. Additional protective measures such as implementing Content Security Policy headers, monitoring administrative actions for suspicious patterns, and educating users about the risks of visiting untrusted websites while authenticated to WordPress sites can help reduce the overall risk exposure. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of CSRF protection in web applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of third-party plugins before deployment in production environments.