CVE-2022-4604 in wp-english-wp-admin Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/18/2022
A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in wp-english-wp-admin Plugin up to 1.5.1. Affected by this vulnerability is the function register_endpoints of the file english-wp-admin.php. The manipulation leads to cross-site request forgery. The attack can be launched remotely. Upgrading to version 1.5.2 is able to address this issue. The name of the patch is ad4ba171c974c65c3456e7c6228f59f40783b33d. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-216199.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/15/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-4604 represents a cross-site request forgery weakness within the wp-english-wp-admin plugin version 1.5.1 and earlier. This plugin, designed to facilitate english language administration within wordpress environments, contains a critical flaw in its register_endpoints function located within the english-wp-admin.php file. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of cross-site requests, allowing malicious actors to exploit the plugin's functionality without proper authorization. The flaw specifically affects the plugin's ability to verify the authenticity of requests originating from legitimate administrative users versus unauthorized third parties, creating a pathway for unauthorized actions within the wordpress administration interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the register_endpoints function which fails to properly validate or authenticate incoming requests. This function, when processing administrative operations, does not adequately verify the source of requests, making it susceptible to CSRF attacks where attackers can trick authenticated users into performing unintended actions. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges to carry out attacks. The flaw essentially allows malicious actors to inject forged requests that appear to originate from legitimate administrative sessions, potentially enabling them to modify plugin configurations, access restricted data, or perform administrative functions without proper authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it could enable attackers to compromise entire wordpress installations through the plugin's administrative interface. Given that the plugin operates within the wordpress admin environment, successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or the installation of malicious code. The vulnerability affects not just individual user accounts but potentially entire administrative capabilities within the wordpress platform, making it particularly dangerous for sites with multiple administrators or those handling sensitive data. Organizations using this plugin without proper mitigation measures face significant risk of unauthorized modifications to their wordpress configurations and potential data breaches.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery conditions in web applications. The flaw also maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers legitimate credentials for lateral movement, as attackers could potentially use this vulnerability to escalate privileges within the wordpress administrative environment. The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate upgrading to version 1.5.2, which contains the patch identified by the commit hash ad4ba171c974c65c3456e7c6228f59f40783b33d. This upgrade addresses the authentication gap in the register_endpoints function by implementing proper request validation mechanisms. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing additional security measures such as web application firewalls, request origin validation, and regular security audits of third-party plugins to prevent similar vulnerabilities from compromising their wordpress installations.