CVE-2023-45643 in CPT Shortcode Generator Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Anurag Deshmukh CPT Shortcode Generator plugin <= 1.0 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2023
The CVE-2023-45643 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw discovered in the Anurag Deshmukh CPT Shortcode Generator WordPress plugin version 1.0 and earlier. This vulnerability resides within the plugin's handling of user requests and lacks proper anti-CSRF protection mechanisms, making it susceptible to exploitation by malicious actors who can manipulate authenticated users into performing unintended actions on vulnerable websites. The flaw specifically affects WordPress installations that utilize this particular plugin, creating a significant security risk for administrators and users who rely on the content management system for their digital operations.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper request validation and token verification within the plugin's administrative interfaces. When users with administrative privileges access the plugin's settings or functionality pages, the system fails to implement anti-CSRF tokens or other protective measures that would normally validate the authenticity of requests. This omission allows attackers to craft malicious requests that can be executed without the user's knowledge or consent, particularly when users are logged into their WordPress administration panels. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the plugin's administrative functionality, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators frequently visit external websites or are exposed to phishing attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation or unauthorized access. An attacker who successfully exploits this CSRF flaw could potentially modify plugin configurations, create or delete content, alter user permissions, or even establish backdoors within the WordPress installation. Given that the CPT Shortcode Generator plugin likely handles custom post type configurations and shortcode generation, successful exploitation could lead to complete compromise of the affected WordPress site's content management capabilities. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that it requires minimal user interaction to exploit, typically involving a simple click on a malicious link or visiting a compromised webpage while authenticated to the target site. This makes it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where administrators may be less vigilant about external threats.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-45643 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the CSRF vulnerability, as this represents the most effective defense mechanism. Administrators should also implement additional security measures such as regular security audits, monitoring of plugin usage patterns, and enforcement of strong authentication practices including multi-factor authentication. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional layers of defense by detecting and blocking suspicious request patterns that may indicate CSRF attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses in software systems, and follows attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the 'Initial Access' and 'Persistence' phases where attackers establish footholds within target environments through manipulation of legitimate user sessions. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers and other browser-based protections to further reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in other components of their WordPress installations.