CVE-2023-3409 in Bricks Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/17/2024
The Bricks theme for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in versions up to, and including, 1.8.1. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the 'reset_settings' function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to reset the theme's settings via a forged request granted they can trick a site administrator into performing an action such as clicking on a link.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2025
The Bricks theme for WordPress represents a popular page builder solution that has been found to contain a critical cross-site request forgery vulnerability affecting versions up to and including 1.8.1. This vulnerability stems from inadequate security controls within the theme's administrative functionality, specifically targeting the reset_settings function that lacks proper nonce validation mechanisms. The vulnerability creates a significant risk for WordPress sites utilizing this theme, as it allows unauthenticated attackers to manipulate theme configurations without proper authorization.
The technical flaw manifests through the absence of proper nonce validation in the reset_settings function, which is a fundamental security measure designed to prevent unauthorized administrative actions. Nonces serve as cryptographic tokens that verify the authenticity of requests and ensure they originate from legitimate administrative sessions. Without these validation checks, an attacker can craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated administrators, enabling them to execute unauthorized operations against the vulnerable WordPress installation. This weakness aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes, as theme resets can potentially compromise the entire site's functionality and security posture. When an administrator is tricked into clicking on a malicious link, the attacker can reset all theme settings to their default values, potentially removing custom configurations, disabling security features, or restoring default passwords. This vulnerability can be exploited through social engineering tactics where attackers craft deceptive links designed to appear legitimate, often exploiting the trust administrators place in familiar website interfaces. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal technical expertise from the attacker while potentially causing significant disruption to site operations.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1566 category, specifically targeting credential harvesting and social engineering techniques. Attackers can leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to administrative functions and potentially escalate privileges within the WordPress environment. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest theme version that includes proper nonce validation, implementing additional security layers such as two-factor authentication, and conducting administrator training to recognize potential social engineering attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security audits of third-party themes and plugins, as these components often represent significant attack surfaces that require continuous monitoring and updating to maintain security integrity.