CVE-2023-23992 in AutomatorWP Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/28/2023
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in AutomatorWP plugin <= 2.5.0 leads to object delete.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2023
The CVE-2023-23992 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw discovered in the AutomatorWP plugin version 2.5.0 and earlier. This vulnerability allows authenticated attackers with sufficient privileges to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of victims, specifically targeting object deletion operations within the plugin's functionality. The issue stems from the absence of proper CSRF protection mechanisms in the plugin's request handling processes, creating a significant security risk for WordPress installations utilizing this automation tool.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs due to the plugin's failure to validate request origins and implement anti-CSRF tokens for critical operations. When users access the AutomatorWP interface, the plugin processes various administrative actions without sufficient verification of the request source or authenticity. This weakness enables attackers to craft malicious requests that appear legitimate to the system, exploiting the trust relationship between the user's browser and the WordPress installation. The vulnerability specifically affects object deletion operations, meaning an attacker could potentially remove critical automation workflows, triggers, or other plugin objects without proper authorization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data loss, as it enables attackers to compromise the integrity and availability of automation workflows within WordPress environments. Organizations relying on AutomatorWP for business process automation face potential disruptions when attackers exploit this flaw to delete essential workflow configurations. The vulnerability affects any user with sufficient privileges to access the plugin's administrative interface, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users have elevated access rights. Additionally, the automated nature of the plugin means that the deletion of objects could potentially cascade into broader system impacts, affecting dependent processes and workflows.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-23992 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions 2.5.1 or later, where the CSRF protection mechanisms have been implemented. System administrators should also implement additional security measures including regular security audits of WordPress installations, monitoring for unauthorized administrative actions, and enforcing strict access controls. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery issues, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1566.001 for credential access through social engineering. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and request validation mechanisms to provide additional layers of protection against similar attacks, while maintaining comprehensive backup strategies to ensure quick recovery from potential exploitation incidents.