CVE-2022-2245 in Counter Box Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/01/2022
The Counter Box WordPress plugin before 1.2.1 is lacking CSRF check when activating and deactivating counters, which could allow attackers to make a logged in admin perform such actions via CSRF attacks
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2022
The Counter Box WordPress plugin vulnerability CVE-2022-2245 represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of administrative operations within WordPress environments. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 1.2.1 and exposes the plugin to Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks through the absence of proper CSRF token validation during counter activation and deactivation processes. The flaw exists because the plugin fails to implement adequate anti-CSRF measures, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to manipulate administrative functions without proper authorization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to validate the authenticity of requests made to modify counter states. When administrators perform actions such as activating or deactivating counters, the plugin should verify that these requests originate from legitimate administrative sessions through the use of CSRF tokens. Without this validation mechanism, attackers can craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated administrators, thereby bypassing the normal security controls that protect against unauthorized modifications. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-352, which defines Cross-Site Request Forgery as a weakness that occurs when an application fails to validate the source of requests that modify application state.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple administrative disruption, potentially enabling attackers to compromise entire WordPress installations through manipulation of counter functionalities. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could deactivate critical counters, potentially disrupting website analytics or monitoring systems, or alternatively activate malicious counters that could serve as entry points for further exploitation. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no privileged credentials beyond an existing administrative session, making it accessible to attackers who have already gained some level of access to the administrative interface. This weakness aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which describes valid accounts being used to perform unauthorized actions, and T1566.001, which covers spearphishing with a link that targets specific users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must focus on immediate remediation through plugin updates to version 1.2.1 or later, which should include proper CSRF token implementation. Administrators should also consider implementing additional security measures such as multi-factor authentication, regular security audits of installed plugins, and monitoring of administrative activities for suspicious patterns. The WordPress security team recommends that all users immediately update their Counter Box plugin installations to prevent exploitation, as the vulnerability represents a clear path for attackers to escalate privileges within WordPress environments. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other plugins that may suffer from similar CSRF implementation flaws, particularly those that perform administrative operations without proper validation mechanisms.