CVE-2023-4629 in LadiApp Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/12/2024
The LadiApp plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery due to a missing nonce check on the save_config() function in versions up to, and including, 4.3. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to update the 'ladipage_config' option via a forged request granted they can trick a site administrator into performing an action such as clicking on a link.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-4629 affects the LadiApp plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions up to and including 4.3. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the WordPress administration interface through a cross-site request forgery vulnerability. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper nonce validation within the plugin's save_config() function, which is a fundamental security mechanism designed to prevent unauthorized modifications to plugin configurations. The lack of this validation creates a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the plugin's settings without proper authentication, potentially compromising the entire WordPress installation.
The technical flaw manifests in the save_config() function's failure to implement nonce verification, which is a standard security practice recommended by the WordPress Plugin Developer Handbook and aligned with CWE-352, which catalogs cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities. A nonce is a unique, time-sensitive value that ensures requests originate from legitimate sources within the WordPress admin environment. Without this verification mechanism, attackers can craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated administrators, exploiting the trust relationship between the browser and the WordPress site. This vulnerability specifically targets the 'ladipage_config' option, which likely contains critical configuration data that could affect how the plugin operates and interacts with the website's functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes, as it creates a potential attack vector for more sophisticated compromises. An attacker could leverage this CSRF flaw to modify plugin settings that might affect user data handling, redirect traffic, or alter the plugin's behavior to serve malicious content. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal user interaction beyond the typical social engineering tactics such as clicking on malicious links, making it highly exploitable in real-world scenarios. According to ATT&CK framework category T1548.003, this vulnerability could facilitate privilege escalation by allowing attackers to modify plugin configurations that may have elevated permissions or access to sensitive data. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that even sites with strong user authentication measures remain at risk if administrators inadvertently interact with malicious content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-4629 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that include proper nonce validation, which aligns with the principle of defense in depth and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. System administrators should implement additional monitoring for unauthorized configuration changes and consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious requests to plugin endpoints. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security audits and the need for developers to follow secure coding practices, particularly those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and the WordPress Coding Standards. Organizations should also consider implementing user education programs to reduce the risk of social engineering attacks that exploit this vulnerability, as the attack relies heavily on tricking administrators into performing malicious actions. The remediation process should include thorough testing of updated plugin versions to ensure that the nonce implementation functions correctly and does not introduce regressions in plugin functionality.