CVE-2022-1847 in Rotating Posts Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/27/2022
The Rotating Posts WordPress plugin through 1.11 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 Rotating Posts WordPress plugin version 1.11 and earlier contains a critical security vulnerability classified as a missing Cross-Site Request Forgery protection mechanism. This flaw exists within the plugin's administrative settings update functionality where no anti-CSRF tokens are implemented to validate the authenticity of requests originating from legitimate administrators. The vulnerability arises from the plugin's failure to enforce proper request validation controls that would normally prevent unauthorized modifications to system configurations.
This weakness creates a significant attack surface where authenticated administrators can be tricked into executing unintended administrative actions without their knowledge or consent. An attacker could craft malicious web pages or emails containing embedded CSRF vectors that, when visited by an authenticated admin user, would silently modify the plugin's configuration settings. The absence of CSRF protection means that any request to update the plugin settings can be forged and executed by an attacker who has access to a logged-in administrative session.
From a technical perspective, the vulnerability demonstrates a classic failure in web application security controls where session management and request validation mechanisms are insufficiently implemented. The plugin's administrative interface accepts configuration updates without verifying that the request originated from the legitimate administrator interface rather than a malicious third-party website. This type of vulnerability is categorized under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. The flaw represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and proper authentication validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes, as the Rotating Posts plugin may control content rotation mechanisms that could affect website presentation, user experience, and potentially expose sensitive data or functionality. An attacker could modify plugin settings to redirect users to malicious sites, alter content display behaviors, or disable critical features. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where administrators frequently browse untrusted websites or receive phishing emails, as the attack requires minimal user interaction beyond visiting a malicious page while authenticated.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically under the T1548.002 technique for Abuse of Cloud Infrastructure and the T1078.004 technique for Valid Accounts - Default Accounts, as it enables attackers to manipulate legitimate administrative sessions. Organizations should immediately update to patched versions of the plugin, implement additional monitoring for unauthorized configuration changes, and consider network-level protections such as web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious administrative requests. The vulnerability underscores the importance of implementing comprehensive CSRF protection mechanisms across all administrative interfaces and demonstrates the critical need for regular security audits of third-party WordPress plugins to ensure proper implementation of security controls.