CVE-2022-3151 in WP Custom Cursors Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/17/2022
The WP Custom Cursors WordPress plugin before 3.0.1 does not have CSRF check in place when deleting cursors, which could allow attackers to made a logged in admin delete arbitrary cursors via a CSRF attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/14/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-3151 affects the WP Custom Cursors WordPress plugin version 3.0.0 and earlier, presenting a critical security weakness that undermines the integrity of administrative operations within WordPress environments. This flaw resides in the plugin's lack of Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) protection mechanisms during cursor deletion processes, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors who can exploit this weakness to execute unauthorized administrative actions. The vulnerability specifically targets the administrative interface of WordPress, where legitimate users with administrative privileges are authenticated and can perform cursor management operations.
The technical implementation flaw stems from the absence of proper CSRF token validation within the plugin's deletion endpoint. When administrators navigate to the cursor management interface and attempt to delete cursor files, the plugin fails to verify that the request originates from a legitimate administrative session rather than a maliciously crafted request. This absence of validation allows attackers to construct malicious web pages or emails containing embedded requests that, when clicked by an authenticated administrator, automatically execute cursor deletion operations without the user's knowledge or consent. The vulnerability operates through the standard HTTP request mechanism where the attacker crafts a request that appears to come from the legitimate WordPress admin interface, leveraging the administrator's existing authenticated session to perform unauthorized actions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data loss, as it represents a complete compromise of administrative control over the plugin's functionality. Attackers can leverage this weakness to delete arbitrary cursor files, potentially disrupting user experience on websites that rely on custom cursors, or they could strategically remove specific cursor files to create confusion or accessibility issues. The vulnerability particularly affects WordPress installations where administrators frequently manage cursor assets, as the attack vector requires minimal technical expertise to execute successfully. The consequences can range from minor usability disruptions to more severe operational impacts if critical cursor assets are removed, potentially affecting the website's overall user experience and accessibility.
The weakness aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities, and demonstrates how insufficient input validation and session management can lead to unauthorized administrative actions. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1078 Valid Accounts and T1566 Phishing, as it exploits legitimate administrative sessions and can be delivered through social engineering techniques. Organizations running affected versions of the WP Custom Cursors plugin should immediately implement mitigations including updating to version 3.0.1 or later, which includes proper CSRF protection mechanisms. Additionally, administrators should review their plugin management processes, implement additional monitoring for unauthorized administrative actions, and consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious CSRF patterns. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of CSRF protection in all administrative interfaces and highlights the necessity of comprehensive security testing for WordPress plugins to prevent similar issues in the future.