CVE-2024-0428 in Index Now Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/06/2024
The Index Now plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in all versions up to, and including, 2.6.3. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the 'reset_form' function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to delete arbitrary site options 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 • 04/11/2026
The CVE-2024-0428 vulnerability affects the Index Now plugin for WordPress, a widely used tool that helps website owners submit their content to search engines like Bing and Yandex. This plugin allows administrators to easily index their website content with major search engines through automated submission processes. The vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 2.6.3, making it a significant concern for WordPress site owners who rely on this plugin for their search engine optimization strategies. The flaw stems from insufficient security measures in the plugin's implementation, specifically within the reset_form function that handles administrative operations.
The technical flaw manifests as a missing or incorrect nonce validation mechanism within the plugin's codebase. A nonce is a cryptographic value that is generated and validated to ensure that requests originate from legitimate sources and that users have proper authorization to perform specific actions. In this case, the reset_form function fails to properly validate nonces, which are essential security tokens that prevent unauthorized modifications to site configuration. This absence of proper nonce verification creates a critical cross-site request forgery vulnerability that allows attackers to manipulate the plugin's administrative functions without authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and potentially devastating for affected WordPress installations. An unauthenticated attacker who can successfully trick a site administrator into clicking a malicious link or visiting a compromised webpage can execute arbitrary operations on the target website. Specifically, the vulnerability enables attackers to delete arbitrary site options, which could include critical configuration parameters, plugin settings, or other administrative data. This could result in complete site disruption, data loss, or potentially provide attackers with additional attack vectors for further compromise of the WordPress installation.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) weaknesses in software applications. This classification indicates that the flaw represents a fundamental security design issue where the application fails to validate the authenticity of requests originating from users. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001, which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, and T1566.001, which involves credential access through social engineering. The attack chain typically involves the attacker crafting a malicious webpage or email that, when visited by an administrator, automatically submits a forged request to the vulnerable plugin endpoint, exploiting the administrator's authenticated session to perform unauthorized actions.
Organizations and WordPress administrators should immediately update to the latest version of the Index Now plugin once a patched release becomes available. Additionally, implementing network monitoring and intrusion detection systems can help identify suspicious activity related to the plugin's endpoints. Site administrators should also exercise caution when clicking links from untrusted sources and consider implementing additional security measures such as two-factor authentication for administrative accounts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and authentication mechanisms in web applications, particularly in plugins that handle administrative functions and have elevated privileges within the WordPress environment.