CVE-2022-3538 in Webmaster Tools Verification Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/14/2022
The Webmaster Tools Verification WordPress plugin through 1.2 does not have authorisation and CSRF checks when disabling plugins, allowing unauthenticated users to disable arbitrary plugins
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/30/2025
The CVE-2022-3538 vulnerability affects the Webmaster Tools Verification WordPress plugin version 1.2 and earlier, presenting a critical authorization and cross-site request forgery flaw that enables unauthenticated attackers to disable arbitrary plugins on vulnerable WordPress installations. This vulnerability resides within the plugin's administrative functionality that handles plugin disabling operations, where proper access controls and security validation mechanisms have been omitted or improperly implemented.
The technical flaw manifests in the absence of adequate authorization checks and CSRF protection when processing plugin disable requests. When an attacker crafts a malicious request to disable a plugin, the system fails to verify whether the requester possesses the necessary administrative privileges or to validate the request origin through proper CSRF token mechanisms. This oversight allows any unauthenticated user to exploit the functionality and potentially disable critical plugins, including security plugins, core WordPress components, or other essential site functionalities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple plugin disabling, as it provides attackers with a potential vector for site disruption, security degradation, and further exploitation opportunities. An attacker could disable security plugins such as Wordfence, Sucuri, or other protective measures, leaving the site vulnerable to additional attacks. The vulnerability also enables attackers to disable essential plugins that maintain site functionality, potentially causing service disruption or creating conditions that facilitate more sophisticated attacks. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-863, which addresses "Incorrect Authorization" issues where access control mechanisms fail to properly validate user privileges.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly concerning as it requires no authentication credentials or prior access to the WordPress administrative interface. Attackers can exploit this through various means including social engineering, automated scanning tools, or by leveraging other initial compromise vectors that may have already provided them with basic access to the target system. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat that can be exploited repeatedly, making it a significant concern for WordPress site administrators who rely on the plugin for verification purposes.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in relation to the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques, where attackers can leverage such flaws to maintain persistent access or degrade system security. The lack of proper CSRF protection means that attackers can craft malicious web pages that automatically submit disable requests when victims visit compromised sites, further expanding the attack surface.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate plugin updates to versions that address the authorization and CSRF validation issues, implementation of additional security layers such as web application firewalls, and regular security audits of installed plugins. Site administrators should also consider implementing proper access controls, monitoring for unauthorized administrative actions, and maintaining updated security measures including two-factor authentication and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in other components of the WordPress ecosystem.