CVE-2023-1472 in RapidLoad Power-Up for Autoptimize Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/17/2023
The RapidLoad Power-Up for Autoptimize plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in versions up to, and including, 1.7.1. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on its AJAX actions. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to invoke those functions, via forged request granted they can trick a site administrator into performing an action such as clicking on a link. Actions include resetting the API key, accessing or deleting log files, and deleting cache among others.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2026
The RapidLoad Power-Up for Autoptimize plugin presents a critical cross-site request forgery vulnerability that affects versions up to and including 1.7.1. This weakness resides in the plugin's handling of AJAX actions where proper nonce validation mechanisms are either absent or improperly implemented. The vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to adequately verify the authenticity of requests made through its administrative interfaces, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system without authentication. The issue directly impacts WordPress environments where this specific plugin is installed and actively used, particularly those with administrative users who may be tricked into performing unintended actions.
The technical flaw manifests through the absence of proper nonce validation in the plugin's AJAX endpoints, which are designed to handle administrative functions such as API key resets, log file access and deletion, cache management operations, and other sensitive administrative tasks. According to CWE-352, this represents a classic cross-site request forgery vulnerability where the application fails to validate that requests originate from legitimate administrative users. The vulnerability enables attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated administrators, exploiting the trust relationship between the web application and its users. This flaw operates under the principle that if an administrator visits a malicious website or clicks on a crafted link, the browser will automatically submit requests to the vulnerable WordPress site, executing unauthorized administrative actions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation to potentially compromise the entire WordPress installation's security posture. An attacker could reset API keys, delete critical log files that might contain evidence of compromise, clear caches that could disrupt legitimate user access, or perform other administrative functions that could severely impact site availability and security monitoring. This vulnerability particularly affects sites where administrators frequently visit external websites or where social engineering attacks are common, as the attack requires only that an administrator clicks on a malicious link or visits a compromised page. The lack of authentication verification means that any user who can access the WordPress site can potentially perform administrative functions, fundamentally undermining the security model of the platform.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate plugin updates to versions that properly implement nonce validation, as well as implementing additional security measures such as restricting administrative access through IP whitelisting, implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, and conducting regular security audits of installed plugins. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes social engineering attacks that trick users into executing malicious actions, and T1078 which covers valid accounts used for persistence. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious AJAX requests, and establish monitoring procedures for unusual administrative activities that could indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of WordPress plugins and themes remain essential to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by threat actors.