CVE-2022-3097 in LBStopAttack Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2022
The LBStopAttack WordPress plugin through 1.1.2 does not use nonces when saving its settings, making it possible for attackers to conduct CSRF attacks. This could allow attackers to disable the plugin's protections.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2025
The CVE-2022-3097 vulnerability affects the LBStopAttack WordPress plugin version 1.1.2 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the plugin's core protective functionality. This vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to implement proper nonce validation when processing administrative settings modifications, creating a significant vector for cross-site request forgery attacks that can compromise the security posture of WordPress installations relying on this protection mechanism.
The technical flaw manifests in the plugin's lack of nonce verification during the settings save operation, which violates fundamental web application security principles established by the OWASP Top Ten and the CWE-352 category for Cross-Site Request Forgery. Without nonce validation, malicious actors can craft crafted HTTP requests that appear to originate from legitimate administrative users, enabling them to manipulate plugin configurations without proper authorization. This vulnerability directly maps to the ATT&CK technique T1566.002 for Phishing with Spoofed Credentials and T1078.004 for Valid Accounts, as attackers can exploit the absence of proper authentication checks to disable security protections.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes, as disabling the plugin's protective mechanisms can leave WordPress installations exposed to various attack vectors that the plugin was specifically designed to mitigate. When attackers successfully execute CSRF attacks through this vulnerability, they can effectively neutralize the security controls that the plugin provides, potentially allowing for further exploitation including but not limited to unauthorized access to administrative functions, data manipulation, or the installation of malicious code. The consequences are particularly severe because the plugin's protection mechanisms are typically designed to defend against active threats such as brute force attacks, malicious file uploads, and other common WordPress vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action from administrators, including updating to the patched version of the LBStopAttack plugin if available, implementing additional security layers such as web application firewalls, and monitoring for suspicious administrative activities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and authentication checks in WordPress plugins, aligning with the principle of least privilege and the security best practices outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Organizations should also consider implementing additional controls such as two-factor authentication, regular security audits, and monitoring for unauthorized configuration changes to reduce the risk exposure associated with such vulnerabilities.