CVE-2021-4374 in Automatic Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/07/2023
The WordPress Automatic Plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary options updates in versions up to, and including, 3.53.2. This is due to missing authorization and option validation in the process_form.php file. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to arbitrarily update the settings of a vulnerable site and ultimately compromise the entire site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-4374 affects the WordPress Automatic Plugin version 3.53.2 and earlier, representing a critical authorization bypass flaw that undermines the security posture of WordPress installations. This vulnerability resides within the plugin's process_form.php file where insufficient validation mechanisms allow unauthorized modification of critical system options. The flaw stems from inadequate access controls that fail to verify whether the requesting user possesses legitimate administrative privileges before permitting configuration changes. Such a weakness creates an exploitable pathway for attackers to manipulate core plugin settings without proper authentication, fundamentally compromising the integrity of the affected WordPress environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of input validation and access control checks within the plugin's administrative interface. When the process_form.php script handles form submissions, it fails to implement proper nonce verification or user role authentication checks before accepting and processing option updates. This absence of authorization enforcement creates a condition where any remote attacker can submit malicious form data to modify plugin configurations, potentially enabling them to alter critical settings such as API keys, connection parameters, or other sensitive operational variables. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple configuration changes as these modifications can directly influence the plugin's behavior and potentially provide attackers with additional attack vectors for further exploitation.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with the capability to completely compromise vulnerable WordPress installations through unauthorized configuration manipulation. An unauthenticated attacker can leverage this flaw to modify plugin settings that may include database connection details, remote service endpoints, or other critical configuration parameters that control how the plugin interacts with the WordPress environment. This capability can lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or the establishment of persistent backdoors within the affected environment. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-863, which addresses "Incorrect Authorization" issues, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in security design. Additionally, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers "Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts," as compromised plugin configurations can enable attackers to maintain persistent access through manipulated system settings.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action including updating to the patched version of the WordPress Automatic Plugin, which addresses the missing authorization checks and implements proper validation mechanisms. Administrators should also implement additional security measures such as monitoring for unusual configuration changes, implementing web application firewalls to detect malicious form submissions, and conducting regular security audits of plugin configurations. The recommended remediation approach includes not only updating the vulnerable plugin but also reviewing and hardening the overall WordPress security posture through proper access control implementation, regular security updates, and comprehensive monitoring of administrative activities. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and privilege separation to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities in their environments.