CVE-2022-1570 in Files Download Delay Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/08/2022
The Files Download Delay WordPress plugin before 1.0.7 does not have authorisation and CSRF checks when reseting its settings, which could allow any authenticated users, such as subscriber to perform such action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2022
The CVE-2022-1570 vulnerability affects the Files Download Delay WordPress plugin version 1.0.6 and earlier, presenting a critical security flaw that undermines the plugin's access control mechanisms. This vulnerability stems from the absence of proper authorization and cross-site request forgery protection during the settings reset functionality. The flaw specifically targets the plugin's administrative operations, creating an unauthorized access vector that allows any authenticated user account to manipulate core plugin configurations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it does not distinguish between user roles, meaning even low-privilege subscribers can exploit this weakness to reset plugin settings, potentially disrupting normal operations or creating security gaps within the WordPress installation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which describes Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) weaknesses in software applications. The plugin fails to implement proper nonce verification mechanisms that would typically validate the authenticity of administrative requests. Without these protective measures, any authenticated user can craft malicious requests to reset the plugin's configuration parameters, effectively bypassing the intended role-based access controls. This flaw represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege, as it allows users with minimal permissions to perform administrative actions that should be restricted to administrators or privileged users. The vulnerability exists at the application logic level where the plugin fails to verify user credentials against appropriate authorization policies before executing sensitive operations.
From an operational standpoint, the impact of CVE-2022-1570 can be significant for WordPress installations using the affected plugin. An attacker with access to any authenticated user account could exploit this vulnerability to reset download delay settings, potentially allowing unauthorized access to protected files or disrupting legitimate download processes. The affected system may experience unintended behavior where legitimate file access controls are bypassed, leading to potential data exposure or service disruption. This vulnerability also creates a potential attack vector for privilege escalation attacks, where a low-privilege user could manipulate plugin configurations to weaken overall security posture. The consequences extend beyond immediate plugin functionality issues, as compromised settings could affect other security mechanisms within the WordPress environment that rely on proper plugin configurations.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate upgrade to version 1.0.7 or later of the Files Download Delay plugin, which implements proper authorization and CSRF protection mechanisms. Administrators should also conduct thorough security audits of their WordPress installations to identify other plugins that may exhibit similar authorization flaws. System administrators should implement additional monitoring for unauthorized configuration changes and establish regular security scanning procedures to detect vulnerable plugins. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1078 Valid Accounts and T1546 Persistence, as it allows attackers to maintain access through compromised user accounts and potentially establish persistent access through modified plugin configurations. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and security headers to provide additional layers of protection against similar CSRF attacks. Regular patch management procedures should be enforced to ensure all WordPress plugins remain current with security updates, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of timely security maintenance in content management systems.