CVE-2023-26535 in Sheets to WP Table Live Sync Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/22/2023
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in WPPOOL Sheets To WP Table Live Sync plugin <= 2.12.15 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2023
The CVE-2023-26535 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw discovered in the WPPOOL Sheets To WP Table Live Sync plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability affects versions up to and including 2.12.15, making it a significant concern for WordPress site administrators who rely on this plugin for data synchronization between Google Sheets and WordPress tables. The issue stems from the plugin's failure to implement proper CSRF protection mechanisms, leaving websites susceptible to unauthorized actions being performed on behalf of authenticated users.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability occurs when the plugin processes requests without validating the presence of a valid CSRF token or implementing proper origin checking. Attackers can craft malicious web pages or emails that, when visited by an authenticated WordPress administrator, automatically submit requests to the vulnerable plugin endpoints. This allows threat actors to perform actions such as modifying table configurations, altering data synchronization settings, or potentially escalating privileges within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's administrative interfaces where sensitive operations are performed, making it particularly dangerous for sites that rely heavily on automated data synchronization.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses substantial risks to WordPress installations using the affected plugin. An attacker who successfully exploits this CSRF flaw could manipulate the data flow between Google Sheets and WordPress tables, potentially leading to data corruption, unauthorized modifications, or even complete disruption of the synchronization process. The impact extends beyond simple data manipulation as the vulnerability could enable attackers to gain deeper access to the WordPress administration panel through related functionalities. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where WordPress is used for content management and data integration, as it could compromise the integrity of business-critical data flows.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566.002, which covers "Phishing via Service" and "Preparation: Phishing", as attackers would likely use social engineering tactics to deliver malicious payloads to administrators. Organizations should immediately upgrade to the latest version of the WPPOOL Sheets To WP Table Live Sync plugin where this vulnerability has been patched. Additionally, implementing proper input validation, maintaining up-to-date security practices, and conducting regular vulnerability assessments of WordPress plugins are essential mitigation strategies. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious administrative activities can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against exploitation attempts.