CVE-2023-45753 in Which Template File Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Gilles Dumas which template file plugin <= 4.6.0 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2023
The CVE-2023-45753 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw discovered in the Gilles Dumas template file plugin for WordPress environments. This vulnerability affects versions 4.6.0 and earlier, creating a significant security risk for websites utilizing this specific plugin. The flaw resides in the plugin's handling of user authentication tokens and request validation mechanisms, which fail to properly verify the origin of HTTP requests submitted through the web interface. Such a weakness allows malicious actors to exploit the trust relationship between the web application and authenticated users, potentially enabling unauthorized actions to be performed on behalf of legitimate users without their knowledge or consent.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-forgery token validation within the plugin's processing logic. When users interact with the plugin's administrative interfaces, the system should validate that requests originate from legitimate sources by verifying cryptographic tokens or other forms of request authenticity. However, the affected plugin versions lack this crucial validation step, making it possible for attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated users. This flaw aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities in web applications. The vulnerability operates by tricking authenticated users into executing unintended actions through maliciously crafted web requests that leverage the user's existing session credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation or unauthorized access. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to modify plugin configurations, alter template settings, or perform administrative actions that compromise the integrity of the affected WordPress installations. The consequences may include unauthorized content modification, data corruption, or even complete system compromise if the plugin's functionality provides access to sensitive system resources. This vulnerability particularly affects websites running vulnerable versions of the Gilles Dumas template plugin, potentially exposing thousands of WordPress sites to coordinated attacks. The risk is amplified because CSRF attacks can be executed through social engineering techniques, making them difficult to detect and prevent without proper security controls.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement multiple layers of defense to protect their systems. The primary mitigation involves upgrading to the latest version of the Gilles Dumas template plugin where the CSRF vulnerability has been patched and properly addressed. Security administrators should also consider implementing additional protective measures such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious cross-site request patterns, along with monitoring systems that track unusual administrative activities. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to technique T1566.002 which covers credential harvesting through phishing and social engineering. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify any other potential CSRF vulnerabilities within their web applications and ensure that all plugins and themes follow secure coding practices that include proper token validation and request origin verification mechanisms.