CVE-2021-4397 in Staff Directory Plugin Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/01/2023
The Staff Directory Plugin plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in versions up to, and including, 3.6. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the saveCustomFields() function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to save custom fields 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 • 07/01/2023
The CVE-2021-4397 vulnerability affects the Staff Directory Plugin for WordPress, representing a critical cross-site request forgery weakness that compromises the integrity of administrative functions. This vulnerability exists within plugin versions up to and including 3.6, where the developers failed to implement proper nonce validation mechanisms. The specific flaw resides in the saveCustomFields() function, which serves as a critical endpoint for modifying staff directory information. Without adequate security tokens to verify the authenticity of requests, the plugin becomes susceptible to malicious exploitation that could fundamentally alter the website's staff directory data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of nonce validation in the plugin's administrative save functionality. Nonce validation represents a fundamental security mechanism that ensures requests originate from legitimate administrative sessions rather than forged submissions. This weakness directly maps to CWE-352, which categorizes cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities as a critical threat to web application security. The vulnerability allows attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated administrators, exploiting the trust relationship between the WordPress admin interface and the plugin's backend functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, as it provides attackers with the capability to alter critical staff directory information that may contain sensitive contact details, roles, or other organizational data. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to inject malicious content, modify staff credentials, or potentially redirect users to malicious websites through compromised directory entries. The attack vector requires social engineering to trick administrators into clicking malicious links, but once successful, the consequences can be severe for organizations relying on accurate staff directory information for operational continuity and security purposes.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which describes social engineering tactics used to manipulate individuals into performing actions that compromise security. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability particularly affects WordPress environments where the Staff Directory Plugin is installed, making it a target for attackers seeking to compromise organizational websites. The lack of proper input validation and authentication checks in the saveCustomFields() function creates a persistent risk that can be exploited repeatedly until the plugin is updated to include proper nonce validation mechanisms.
Organizations should immediately update to the latest version of the Staff Directory Plugin where this vulnerability has been patched, as the fix typically involves implementing proper nonce validation in the affected function. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing additional security measures such as role-based access controls and monitoring for unauthorized administrative changes. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper security validation in WordPress plugins, particularly those handling administrative functions and user data modification capabilities.