CVE-2023-45047 in Suite Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in LeadSquared, Inc LeadSquared Suite plugin <= 0.7.4 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/31/2023
The CVE-2023-45047 vulnerability represents a critical Cross-Site Request Forgery flaw discovered in the LeadSquared Suite plugin for WordPress, affecting versions up to and including 0.7.4. This vulnerability resides within the web application's authentication and session management mechanisms, specifically targeting the plugin's handling of user requests and validation processes. The issue stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF token implementation in the plugin's administrative interfaces, creating a scenario where malicious actors can exploit the lack of request origin verification to execute unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability impacts the plugin's ability to distinguish between legitimate user requests and forged requests originating from malicious domains, thereby compromising the integrity of user sessions and administrative operations.
The technical exploitation of this CSRF vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of HTTP requests that target the plugin's administrative endpoints without proper validation of the request source. Attackers can craft malicious web pages or emails containing embedded requests that, when executed by authenticated users, perform unintended actions within the LeadSquared Suite plugin. These actions may include modifying plugin configurations, creating unauthorized user accounts, or executing administrative commands that alter the plugin's functionality. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to bypass the standard authentication checks that should verify the legitimacy of requests originating from the plugin's own interface. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the application layer, where it can directly affect the plugin's core functionality and potentially provide attackers with persistent access to administrative controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can enable attackers to compromise the entire WordPress installation through the compromised plugin. When authenticated users interact with malicious content, the CSRF attack can lead to data manipulation, unauthorized configuration changes, and potential privilege escalation within the plugin's administrative scope. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that it affects the LeadSquared Suite plugin, which likely handles sensitive customer data and marketing automation features. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability may gain access to customer information, campaign data, and other valuable business intelligence. The risk is particularly elevated in environments where administrators regularly visit external websites or receive email communications, as these scenarios provide ideal conditions for social engineering attacks that leverage the CSRF flaw. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-45047 require immediate action to upgrade the LeadSquared Suite plugin to a patched version that implements proper anti-CSRF token mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as Content Security Policy headers to restrict the sources from which scripts can be executed, and ensure that all administrative interfaces require proper request validation. Network-level protections including web application firewalls can provide additional layers of defense against CSRF attacks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other plugins and themes. The implementation of proper input validation and request origin checking mechanisms, as recommended by the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework, is essential for preventing such vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future. Administrators should also enforce strict access controls and monitor administrative activities for any suspicious behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the necessity of implementing robust authentication mechanisms that protect against session hijacking and unauthorized administrative actions.