CVE-2023-0522 in Enable Disable Auto Login when Register Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/08/2023
The Enable/Disable Auto Login when Register WordPress plugin through 1.1.0 does not have CSRF check in place when updating its settings, which could allow attackers to make a logged in admin change them via a CSRF attack
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0522 affects the Enable/Disable Auto Login when Register WordPress plugin version 1.1.0 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of administrative settings within WordPress environments. This issue stems from the absence of Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) protection mechanisms within the plugin's administrative interface, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate critical configuration parameters without proper authorization. The vulnerability specifically impacts the plugin's ability to validate the authenticity of administrative requests, leaving WordPress installations susceptible to unauthorized modifications that could significantly compromise system security.
The technical flaw manifests in the plugin's failure to implement proper CSRF token validation during the settings update process. When administrators access the plugin's configuration interface, the system should verify that each request originates from a legitimate administrative session rather than being forged by an attacker. Without this validation mechanism, attackers can craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated administrators, exploiting the trust relationship between the web browser and the WordPress administration panel. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-352, which categorizes Cross-Site Request Forgery as a weakness that allows attackers to perform actions with the privileges of authenticated users without their knowledge or consent.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes, potentially allowing attackers to enable or disable auto-login functionality in ways that could facilitate further attacks or compromise user accounts. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could manipulate the auto-login settings to either disable security features or enable persistent access mechanisms, creating long-term exposure for the WordPress installation. The attack vector typically involves tricking an authenticated administrator into visiting a malicious website or clicking on a crafted link that automatically submits a request to modify the plugin settings. This technique aligns with ATT&CK tactic TA0001 (Initial Access) and TA0003 (Persistence) as it leverages social engineering to gain unauthorized access to administrative functions and potentially establish persistent access to the system.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of the plugin where CSRF protection has been implemented, reviewing access controls and administrative sessions for any suspicious activity, and ensuring that all WordPress plugins maintain proper security validation mechanisms. The remediation process should also include monitoring for unauthorized configuration changes and implementing additional security measures such as two-factor authentication and regular security audits of installed plugins. Administrators should also consider implementing network-level protections such as web application firewalls and monitoring for unusual patterns in administrative requests to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability underscores the critical importance of CSRF protection in all administrative interfaces and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of third-party WordPress plugins to prevent similar issues from compromising production environments.