CVE-2023-0723 in Wicked Folders Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/08/2023
The Wicked Folders plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in versions up to, and including, 2.18.16. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the ajax_move_object function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to invoke this function via forged request granted they can trick a site administrator into performing an action such as clicking on a link leading them to perform actions intended for administrators such as changing the folder structure maintained by the plugin.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0723 affects the Wicked Folders plugin for WordPress, a popular tool used for organizing content within WordPress environments. This plugin allows administrators to create and manage folder structures for media files and other content types. The security flaw exists in versions up to and including 2.18.16, making a significant portion of WordPress installations potentially susceptible to exploitation. The vulnerability manifests as a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) weakness that undermines the plugin's security controls and could enable unauthorized modifications to the folder structure.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper implementation of nonce validation within the ajax_move_object function. Nonces serve as critical security tokens that verify the authenticity of requests and prevent unauthorized operations. In this case, the function fails to properly validate these security tokens, creating a pathway for malicious actors to forge requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress system. The absence of proper nonce verification means that any attacker who can influence an administrator to perform specific actions can potentially manipulate the folder structure without requiring authentication credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, as it provides attackers with the ability to alter the fundamental organization of content within WordPress installations. An attacker could potentially restructure folders in ways that disrupt content access, hide malicious files, or create confusion within the administrator's workflow. This type of attack leverages social engineering tactics where administrators are tricked into clicking malicious links or visiting compromised websites. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it targets the administrative functions of WordPress, potentially allowing attackers to gain deeper access to the system or cause operational disruption that could affect site availability and content integrity.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and insufficient request verification mechanisms that are common in web applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence within web applications. The attack vector relies on user interaction, specifically targeting administrators through social engineering methods that exploit human factors rather than technical vulnerabilities alone. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of the plugin, implementing additional security measures such as web application firewalls, and conducting security awareness training for administrators to recognize potential phishing attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper security testing and validation of AJAX endpoints in web applications, particularly those handling administrative functions that could impact system integrity and data organization.