CVE-2023-40672 in Sticky Social Media Icons Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/12/2024
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Hardik Chavada Sticky Social Media Icons.This issue affects Sticky Social Media Icons: from n/a through 2.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/14/2024
The CVE-2023-40672 vulnerability represents a critical missing authorization flaw in the Sticky Social Media Icons plugin developed by Hardik Chavada. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-863 category, which specifically addresses "Incorrect Authorization" issues where the system fails to properly verify that an actor is authorized to perform a requested action. The vulnerability exists within the plugin's access control mechanisms, allowing unauthorized users to bypass normal security restrictions and potentially execute privileged operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user permissions within the plugin's administrative interfaces. When users attempt to access or modify social media icon configurations, the system fails to properly authenticate and authorize their requests. This misconfiguration creates a pathway where unauthenticated or low-privilege users can manipulate plugin settings, potentially leading to unauthorized changes in social media integration parameters. The vulnerability affects all versions from the initial release through version 2.1, indicating a persistent flaw that has not been adequately addressed in the plugin's codebase.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can enable attackers to modify critical social media integration points on websites. An attacker who exploits this vulnerability could potentially alter social sharing buttons, redirect traffic through malicious links, or modify plugin configurations that affect website functionality. This presents significant risks for websites that rely on the plugin for social media engagement, as unauthorized modifications could compromise user data, brand reputation, or even serve as a vector for further attacks. The vulnerability's presence in a widely-used plugin increases the potential attack surface and impact across multiple websites.
Security practitioners should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of the Sticky Social Media Icons plugin where the authorization flaw has been patched. Additionally, administrators should review plugin permissions and implement network-level restrictions to limit access to plugin administration interfaces. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers 'Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts' and represents a failure in access control validation that could enable lateral movement or privilege escalation. Organizations should also conduct thorough security audits of all installed plugins and consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning to detect similar authorization flaws in other software components. The affected plugin's lack of proper authorization checks demonstrates a fundamental security oversight that requires immediate attention to prevent potential exploitation.