CVE-2023-48762 in JetBlocks for Elementor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/18/2023
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Crocoblock JetElements For Elementor.This issue affects JetElements For Elementor: from n/a through 2.6.13.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2023
The Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-48762 resides within the Crocoblock JetElements For Elementor plugin, representing a critical security weakness that undermines the integrity of web applications built on the Elementor platform. This vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user requests, allowing malicious actors to exploit the trust relationship between authenticated users and the web application. The affected version range spans from an unknown initial state through version 2.6.13, indicating that all iterations within this spectrum remain susceptible to exploitation. The vulnerability manifests when the plugin fails to properly verify the origin of requests, creating an opening for attackers to execute unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users.
The technical flaw underlying this CSRF vulnerability can be categorized as CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in web applications. This weakness occurs when a web application does not adequately validate that requests originate from legitimate sources, particularly when these requests modify application state or user data. The JetElements plugin's failure to implement proper anti-CSRF tokens or origin validation mechanisms creates an environment where attackers can craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated users. This typically involves the absence of unique, unpredictable tokens that would verify the authenticity of each request, or the lack of proper referer header validation that could detect unauthorized request sources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or modification, as it enables attackers to perform authenticated actions without user consent or knowledge. An attacker could potentially exploit this weakness to modify user settings, delete content, change user permissions, or execute administrative functions within the Elementor environment. The implications are particularly severe for websites using JetElements, as these users may have elevated privileges within their WordPress installations. This vulnerability could facilitate account takeovers, data manipulation, or the deployment of malicious content through the compromised plugin interface, especially when combined with other exploitation techniques. The attack surface expands significantly in environments where users have administrative capabilities, as the compromised requests could lead to complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-48762 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected plugin to version 2.6.14 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement additional protective measures including the enforcement of anti-CSRF tokens for all state-changing operations, proper validation of HTTP referer headers, and the implementation of Content Security Policy headers. The use of security headers such as X-Frame-Options and X-Requested-With can provide additional defense layers against exploitation attempts. Regular security audits of installed plugins and themes should be conducted to identify potential vulnerabilities, with particular attention to third-party components that may lack proper CSRF protection mechanisms. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious request patterns associated with CSRF attacks. According to ATT&CK framework category TA0001, this vulnerability aligns with Initial Access techniques that leverage web application flaws to establish footholds within target environments, making early detection and remediation crucial for maintaining overall security posture.