CVE-2022-1624 in Latest Tweets Widget Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/13/2022
The Latest Tweets Widget WordPress plugin through 1.1.4 does not have CSRF check in place when updating its settings, which could allow attackers to make a logged in admin change them via a CSRF attack
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2022
The CVE-2022-1624 vulnerability resides within the Latest Tweets Widget WordPress plugin version 1.1.4 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of administrative functions within WordPress environments. This vulnerability stems from the absence of Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) protection mechanisms when processing administrative settings updates, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit authenticated admin sessions. The flaw specifically affects the plugin's configuration management interface, where users with administrative privileges can inadvertently be coerced into executing unauthorized actions through crafted malicious requests. The vulnerability manifests when administrators navigate to compromised web pages or click on malicious links while logged into their WordPress admin dashboard, enabling attackers to manipulate plugin settings without proper authorization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental failure in the plugin's security architecture, as it lacks the necessary anti-CSRF token validation that should be present in all administrative interfaces. According to CWE-352, this corresponds to Cross-Site Request Forgery, a well-documented weakness where web applications fail to validate the origin of requests originating from external sources. The vulnerability operates by leveraging the authenticated session of a logged-in administrator, who is tricked into submitting a forged request that modifies the plugin's configuration settings. This attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which describes valid accounts used for lateral movement and privilege escalation. The absence of CSRF tokens means that the plugin cannot distinguish between legitimate administrative actions initiated by the authenticated user and malicious requests crafted by attackers.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-1624 extends beyond simple configuration changes, potentially enabling attackers to establish persistent backdoors or redirect traffic to malicious endpoints. When an administrator unknowingly triggers the CSRF attack, they may inadvertently modify the plugin's Twitter API credentials, alter display settings to show malicious content, or configure the widget to fetch data from attacker-controlled sources. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where administrators frequently access potentially untrusted websites or where social engineering attacks are prevalent. The attack requires minimal technical expertise from threat actors, making it an attractive target for automated exploitation campaigns. The vulnerability affects all WordPress installations running the affected plugin version, regardless of the hosting environment or additional security measures in place.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-1624 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that implement proper CSRF protection mechanisms. Organizations should ensure that all WordPress plugins are regularly updated and maintained to address known vulnerabilities, with particular attention to administrative interfaces that handle sensitive configuration changes. Security teams should implement additional monitoring for unauthorized configuration changes and establish automated patch management processes to minimize exposure windows. The vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing comprehensive security controls including Content Security Policy headers, proper session management, and regular security audits of third-party plugins. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious request patterns associated with CSRF attacks. According to NIST SP 800-53, controls such as CM-7 (Configuration Management) and SI-7 (Security Notifications) are particularly relevant for addressing this class of vulnerability through proper patch management and monitoring procedures.