CVE-2024-1334 in ImageRecycle PDF & Image Compression Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/29/2024
The ImageRecycle pdf & image compression plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in all versions up to, and including, 3.1.13. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the enableOptimization function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to enable image optimization 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 • 04/20/2025
The ImageRecycle pdf & image compression plugin for WordPress represents a critical security vulnerability that affects versions up to and including 3.1.13, exposing WordPress installations to cross-site request forgery attacks. This vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the plugin's enableOptimization function, which fails to properly verify the authenticity of incoming requests. The flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to manipulate the plugin's functionality by crafting malicious requests that, when executed by an authenticated administrator, could result in unauthorized image optimization activation. The vulnerability particularly impacts WordPress environments where administrators frequently interact with external links or where social engineering attacks may occur, creating a significant risk for site owners who rely on the plugin for media management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the absence of proper nonce validation within the plugin's administrative functions, specifically targeting the enableOptimization endpoint. Nonces serve as critical security tokens that verify the authenticity of administrative actions and prevent unauthorized modifications to plugin settings. Without these validation checks, attackers can construct forged requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress system, bypassing standard authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple configuration changes, as enabling image optimization can affect site performance, resource utilization, and potentially expose additional attack vectors through altered media processing workflows. This weakness aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities, and demonstrates how insufficient input validation and missing security tokens create exploitable conditions in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability creates a substantial risk for WordPress site administrators who may inadvertently trigger malicious actions through social engineering or phishing campaigns. Attackers can craft malicious links or embed code that, when clicked by an administrator, automatically enables image optimization features without proper authorization. This scenario particularly threatens sites with high administrator activity or those that frequently interact with external sources, as the attack vector requires minimal technical expertise to execute successfully. The vulnerability also introduces potential performance degradation and resource consumption issues, as automatic optimization processes may begin processing media files without administrator knowledge or consent. Additionally, the compromised state can potentially facilitate further attacks by altering the site's media handling behavior, creating opportunities for additional exploitation.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the nonce validation deficiency, as this represents the most direct solution to the identified flaw. Administrators should implement additional monitoring of plugin settings changes to detect unauthorized modifications to optimization configurations, particularly focusing on administrative actions that may occur during high-risk periods. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block suspicious requests attempting to manipulate the enableOptimization function, while security headers and content security policies can provide additional layers of defense. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security audits and proper input validation practices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for credential access through web application vulnerabilities. Organizations should consider implementing privileged access management controls and multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts to reduce the impact of successful CSRF attacks, while maintaining detailed logs of administrative activities to facilitate forensic analysis if compromise occurs.