CVE-2023-0724 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_add_folder 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 CVE-2023-0724 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the Wicked Folders WordPress plugin, affecting versions up to and including 2.18.16. This vulnerability stems from inadequate security measures in the plugin's ajax_add_folder function, which fails to properly validate nonces. The absence of proper nonce validation creates a significant security gap that allows unauthenticated attackers to manipulate the plugin's functionality without proper authorization. The vulnerability specifically targets the administrative capabilities of the plugin, which manages folder structures within WordPress installations, making it particularly dangerous for sites that rely on this functionality for content organization and access control.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability operates through the fundamental principle of cross-site request forgery where an attacker crafts malicious requests that appear to originate from a legitimate administrator. The ajax_add_folder function, which handles folder creation operations, lacks proper nonce verification mechanisms that would normally ensure requests come from authenticated administrators with valid session tokens. This absence of nonce validation means that any user who can access the vulnerable plugin interface can potentially execute administrative actions without proper authentication. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery issues, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts and T1566.002 for Spearphishing Link, as it exploits the trust relationship between administrators and the targeted WordPress site.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized folder creation, as it provides attackers with the ability to manipulate the entire folder structure managed by the plugin. This could lead to unauthorized content reorganization, potential privilege escalation, or even serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks within the WordPress environment. Administrators who are tricked into clicking malicious links could unknowingly alter folder permissions, move critical content, or create new directories that might be used for malicious purposes. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication to exploit, making it accessible to anyone who can influence an administrator to perform actions on the vulnerable site. Attackers could potentially use this vulnerability to establish persistence within the WordPress environment or to disrupt normal operations by modifying the folder structure in ways that could affect site functionality or security configurations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-0724 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the nonce validation issue, as this represents the most direct solution to the vulnerability. Administrators should also implement additional security measures such as monitoring for unusual folder structure changes, establishing strict access controls for plugin administration, and ensuring that all users, particularly administrators, are educated about the risks of clicking suspicious links. The WordPress security community should also consider implementing more robust nonce validation practices across all AJAX endpoints within WordPress plugins, as this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper authentication mechanisms. Organizations should conduct regular security audits of their WordPress installations to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins and themes, as this type of CSRF vulnerability is unfortunately common in poorly secured WordPress extensions and represents a significant risk to overall site security and integrity.