CVE-2023-5945 in Video Carousel Slider with Lightbox Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/03/2023
The video carousel slider with lightbox plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in version 1.0. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the responsive_video_gallery_with_lightbox_video_management_func() function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to delete videos hosted from the video slider 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 • 11/30/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-5945 affects the video carousel slider with lightbox plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting version 1.0 which contains a critical cross-site request forgery flaw. This issue stems from inadequate security controls within the plugin's core functionality, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's trust relationship with administrators. The vulnerability manifests in the responsive_video_gallery_with_lightbox_video_management_func() function where nonce validation is either absent or improperly implemented, fundamentally undermining the plugin's ability to verify legitimate requests.
From a technical perspective, the missing nonce validation creates a condition where attackers can craft malicious requests that appear to originate from legitimate administrative sessions. This weakness aligns with CWE-352, which categorizes cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities as those that allow attackers to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users without their knowledge or consent. The flaw operates under the principle that the system assumes all requests are legitimate based on session cookies, failing to implement proper request origin verification that would normally be enforced through nonce tokens.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, as it enables attackers to delete videos hosted on the website's slider functionality. This represents a significant security risk for content creators and website administrators who rely on these plugins to manage their multimedia content. The attack vector requires social engineering to trick administrators into clicking malicious links, but once successful, the consequences can include complete loss of video content, potential disruption of website functionality, and compromise of user data that may be associated with the deleted media files. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that attackers do not need to possess valid credentials to exploit this vulnerability.
The implications of this vulnerability align with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1566 for social engineering and T1499 for service interruption through data destruction. Organizations using this plugin face potential reputational damage, content loss, and operational disruption that could affect their online presence and user engagement. The vulnerability's classification as a CSRF issue indicates that the attack can be executed through standard web browsers without requiring specialized tools or deep technical knowledge, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators may not be fully security-aware. Security practitioners should prioritize patching this vulnerability immediately, as the combination of its exploitable nature and the common use of WordPress plugins creates a high-risk scenario for widespread exploitation across multiple websites.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate plugin updates from the vendor, implementation of additional security layers such as web application firewalls, and enhanced administrator training on recognizing social engineering attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and request verification mechanisms in web applications, particularly those handling user-generated content or administrative functions. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their WordPress installations to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins or themes that may present analogous CSRF risks.