CVE-2023-37386 in Media Library Helper Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/18/2023
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Media Library Helper plugin <= 1.2.0 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/19/2026
Cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities represent a critical class of web application security flaws that allow attackers to execute unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. The Media Library Helper plugin version 1.2.0 and earlier contains a CSRF vulnerability that exposes WordPress installations to potential exploitation. This vulnerability falls under CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery conditions where applications fail to validate the origin of requests. The flaw occurs when the plugin does not implement proper anti-CSRF token mechanisms or request validation checks, allowing malicious actors to craft requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress application. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform unauthorized operations such as modifying media library settings, deleting files, or altering plugin configurations without the user's knowledge or consent. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it targets the media library functionality which often contains sensitive content and administrative controls. According to the ATT&CK framework, this represents a technique categorized under T1566.002 - Phishing for Information, where attackers use CSRF attacks to manipulate user sessions and gain unauthorized access to administrative functions. The impact of such a vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation as it can lead to complete compromise of the WordPress installation through unauthorized plugin modifications or file deletions. The vulnerability exists because the plugin fails to implement proper request verification mechanisms that would ensure requests originate from legitimate sources within the same domain. In WordPress environments, this can be particularly dangerous as media libraries often contain sensitive information and the plugin may have elevated privileges that allow for system-wide modifications. The lack of CSRF protection in these older versions means that any authenticated user session can be exploited by an attacker who successfully tricks the user into visiting a malicious website containing crafted requests. This attack vector is especially effective because it requires no credentials or authentication bypass techniques, relying instead on the trust relationship between the user's browser and the target application. Organizations using affected plugin versions should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest plugin version, implementing proper CSRF token validation, and deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious cross-site requests. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and request origin verification in web applications, as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten 2021 and the ISO/IEC 27001 security standards. Without proper protection mechanisms, even seemingly benign plugins can become entry points for sophisticated attacks that can escalate to full system compromise. The remediation process involves not only updating the plugin but also ensuring that all custom implementations of similar functionality include robust CSRF protection measures to prevent future occurrences of this type of vulnerability.