CVE-2022-1846 in Tiny Contact Form Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/27/2022
The Tiny Contact Form WordPress plugin through 0.7 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 Tiny Contact Form WordPress plugin version 0.7 and earlier contains a critical security vulnerability classified as a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) flaw that compromises the integrity of administrative configurations. This vulnerability exists within the plugin's settings update functionality where proper CSRF protection mechanisms are entirely absent, creating a significant attack vector for malicious actors who have gained access to an administrator's session. The flaw allows attackers to execute unauthorized configuration changes without the administrator's knowledge or consent, potentially leading to complete compromise of the affected WordPress installation.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. The absence of CSRF tokens or validation mechanisms in the plugin's administrative interface means that any authenticated administrator who visits a malicious website or clicks on a crafted link could unknowingly trigger configuration changes. The attack requires only that the victim be logged into their WordPress admin panel, making it particularly dangerous as it exploits the trust relationship between the browser and the web application. The vulnerability affects the plugin's ability to validate that requests originate from legitimate administrative actions rather than maliciously crafted requests.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes, as it provides attackers with a foothold for further exploitation within the WordPress environment. An attacker could modify plugin settings to redirect traffic, disable security features, or establish backdoor access points that could persist even after the initial compromise is discovered. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates silently in the background, with administrators remaining unaware of unauthorized changes until they manually inspect the plugin configurations. This type of attack falls under the ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers valid accounts and T1566.001 which covers spearphishing attachments, highlighting how such vulnerabilities can enable broader attack chains.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should begin with immediate plugin updates to versions that include proper CSRF protection mechanisms. WordPress administrators should ensure that all plugins are regularly updated and maintained to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and CSRF token generation within the plugin's administrative interface would address the root cause of the issue. Security monitoring should include checking for unauthorized changes to plugin configurations, and administrators should consider implementing additional security layers such as two-factor authentication and role-based access controls to minimize the impact of potential compromises. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper security practices in plugin development and the necessity of thorough security testing before releasing software updates to production environments.