CVE-2023-49838 in Theme
Summary
by MITRE • 03/26/2024
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in KlbTheme Clotya theme, KlbTheme Cosmetsy theme, KlbTheme Furnob theme, KlbTheme Bacola theme, KlbTheme Partdo theme, KlbTheme Medibazar theme, KlbTheme Machic theme.This issue affects Clotya theme: from n/a through 1.1.6; Cosmetsy theme: from n/a through 1.7.7; Furnob theme: from n/a through 1.2.2; Bacola theme: from n/a through 1.3.3; Partdo theme: from n/a through 1.1.1; Medibazar theme: from n/a through 1.8.6; Machic theme: from n/a through 1.2.8.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/26/2024
Cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities in multiple KlbTheme WordPress themes represent a critical security weakness that allows attackers to execute unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. These vulnerabilities affect seven distinct themes including Clotya, Cosmetsy, Furnob, Bacola, Partdo, Medibazar, and Machic, each with specific version ranges where the flaw exists. The CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence or improper implementation of anti-CSRF tokens in web forms and API endpoints that process user requests. Attackers can craft malicious web pages or emails containing hidden form submissions that automatically trigger actions on vulnerable sites when users visit them while logged into their WordPress administration panels.
The technical flaw manifests as the themes failing to validate the origin of HTTP requests, particularly those involving administrative functions such as theme customization settings, plugin configurations, or user management operations. When a user visits a malicious site or clicks on a compromised link while authenticated to a vulnerable WordPress installation, the browser automatically submits requests to the target site without proper authorization checks. This occurs because the themes do not implement proper CSRF protection mechanisms like unique tokens that would verify the request originated from a legitimate source within the same session.
The operational impact of these vulnerabilities extends beyond simple data manipulation to potentially enable complete compromise of affected WordPress installations. An attacker could leverage these CSRF flaws to modify theme settings, install malicious plugins, change administrator passwords, or even execute arbitrary code if combined with other vulnerabilities. The attack vectors are particularly dangerous because they require minimal user interaction beyond visiting a malicious page, making them highly effective for social engineering campaigns. Additionally, the widespread adoption of these themes across various WordPress installations increases the potential attack surface significantly.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including updating all affected themes to their latest versions where CSRF protections have been properly implemented. Organizations must also consider deploying additional security layers such as Content Security Policy headers and web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious cross-site requests. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this maps to technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1190 for exploit public-facing application, as attackers can leverage these vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to administrative functions.
The affected themes represent a significant risk to WordPress users who may not be actively monitoring theme updates or security notifications. Many of the vulnerable versions have been available for extended periods, allowing threat actors sufficient time to develop and deploy exploitation tools. The lack of CSRF protection in these commercial themes highlights the importance of proper security design practices during development and the necessity for regular security audits. System administrators should conduct comprehensive inventory checks to identify all installations using affected themes and implement remediation strategies immediately. Organizations that cannot update immediately should consider implementing temporary network-level protections and monitoring for suspicious activity patterns that might indicate CSRF attacks in progress.
The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws in theme code can result in major security consequences, particularly when these themes are used by businesses or organizations that rely on WordPress for their online presence. The affected versions span multiple releases, indicating that the CSRF protection mechanisms were either never properly implemented or were subsequently removed during development cycles. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited by attackers without requiring any special privileges or advanced technical knowledge beyond crafting malicious web pages. Security teams should prioritize these fixes in their vulnerability management programs and consider implementing automated scanning tools to detect similar issues in custom themes or plugins that may have been developed in-house.