CVE-2021-4389 in WP Travel Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/01/2023
The WP Travel plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in versions up to, and including, 4.4.6. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the save_meta_data() function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to save metadata for travel posts via a forged request granted they can trick a site administrator into performing an action such as clicking on a link.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2023
The WP Travel plugin for WordPress represents a popular solution for travel-related website functionality, but versions up to and including 4.4.6 contain a critical cross-site request forgery vulnerability that exposes WordPress sites to significant security risks. This vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the plugin's core functionality, specifically affecting the save_meta_data() function that handles metadata operations for travel posts. The flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to manipulate travel-related content through forged requests, creating a serious threat vector that leverages social engineering tactics to compromise site integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the absence or improper execution of nonce validation within the save_meta_data() function. Nonces serve as cryptographic tokens that verify the authenticity of requests and prevent unauthorized modifications to WordPress content. When these validation checks are missing or incorrectly implemented, attackers can craft malicious requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress system. The vulnerability specifically targets the administrative functionality of the plugin, where travel post metadata can be modified without proper authorization, enabling attackers to alter booking information, pricing details, or other critical travel-related data.
The operational impact of this CSRF vulnerability extends beyond simple data modification, as it can potentially lead to complete compromise of travel booking systems and customer information. Attackers can exploit this weakness to inject malicious content into travel posts, manipulate pricing structures, or even redirect users to malicious websites through forged metadata entries. The vulnerability particularly affects site administrators who may be tricked into clicking malicious links, making it a significant concern for travel businesses that rely on WordPress platforms for their online operations. This threat vector represents a classic social engineering attack that combines technical exploitation with human psychology to achieve unauthorized access.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and proper input validation, which aligns with CWE-352, the Common Weakness Enumeration identifier for Cross-Site Request Forgery. The attack pattern corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1566.002, which describes the use of spearphishing with links to gain initial access to systems. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the patched version of the WP Travel plugin, implementing additional security layers such as web application firewalls, and conducting security awareness training for administrators to recognize potential social engineering attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper nonce implementation in WordPress plugin development, emphasizing that all administrative functions must validate nonces to prevent unauthorized modifications to site content.