CVE-2022-1627 in My Private Site Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/27/2022
The My Private Site WordPress plugin before 3.0.8 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 • 07/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1627 affects the My Private Site WordPress plugin version 3.0.7 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of administrative configurations within WordPress environments. This issue stems from the absence of Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) protection mechanisms during the plugin's settings update process, creating a significant attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to manipulate administrative functions without proper authorization. The vulnerability specifically targets the administrative interface of WordPress installations where the plugin is active, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators regularly access the dashboard from potentially compromised networks.
The technical implementation flaw lies in the plugin's failure to validate the authenticity of administrative requests through proper CSRF token verification. When administrators navigate to the plugin settings page and submit changes, the system should verify that the request originates from a legitimate administrative session rather than being forged through malicious means. This absence of validation creates a pathway for attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated administrators, effectively bypassing the standard authentication mechanisms that protect WordPress administrative functions. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the configuration management functionality of the plugin, making it a direct threat to the security posture of affected WordPress installations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes, as it allows attackers to potentially alter critical security settings that could lead to further compromise of the WordPress environment. An attacker could modify authentication settings, adjust access controls, or manipulate other sensitive configurations that might weaken the overall security framework. The attack requires minimal privileges beyond having access to a victim's authenticated session, often achieved through social engineering tactics such as phishing emails or compromised user credentials. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited even when users maintain strong password practices, since the attack targets the session management rather than authentication credentials directly. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which categorizes Cross-Site Request Forgery as a security weakness that allows unauthorized commands to be executed on behalf of an authenticated user, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers valid accounts used for unauthorized access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-1627 require immediate action to upgrade the My Private Site plugin to version 3.0.8 or later, where the CSRF protection mechanisms have been implemented. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including network-based protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious administrative requests, regular monitoring of plugin configuration changes, and enforcement of strict access controls for administrative functions. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of all installed WordPress plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities, particularly focusing on those that handle administrative functions without proper CSRF protection. The remediation process should include not only updating the vulnerable plugin but also reviewing and strengthening overall WordPress security practices, including implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, regularly updating all WordPress core components, and maintaining detailed logs of administrative activities to detect potential unauthorized changes. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure that similar vulnerabilities do not exist in other components of the WordPress ecosystem.