CVE-2024-13444 in wp-greet Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/21/2025
The wp-greet plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in all versions up to, and including, 6.2. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on a function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to update settings and inject malicious web scripts 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 • 02/09/2025
The wp-greet plugin for WordPress presents a critical cross-site request forgery vulnerability that affects all versions up to and including 6.2. This vulnerability stems from insufficient or absent nonce validation within the plugin's functionality, creating a significant security gap that can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers. The flaw specifically targets the plugin's settings update mechanism, where proper cryptographic verification is missing, allowing malicious actors to craft forged requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress system.
This vulnerability operates under the well-documented CWE-352 category of Cross-Site Request Forgery, which represents one of the most prevalent web application security flaws in the industry. The implementation of CSRF protection typically involves the use of nonces - unique, time-sensitive tokens that verify the authenticity of user requests. In this case, the absence of proper nonce validation means that attackers can bypass the standard authentication mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized modifications to plugin settings. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which describes social engineering attacks that manipulate users into performing actions that benefit the attacker.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes, as it provides attackers with the capability to inject malicious web scripts into the affected WordPress installation. When an administrator is tricked into clicking on a malicious link or visiting a compromised website, the forged request can execute with the administrator's privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attack vector relies heavily on social engineering tactics, as attackers must deceive administrators into performing actions that trigger the vulnerable function. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where administrators frequently click on links from untrusted sources or where phishing attacks are common.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate plugin updates to the latest available version where the nonce validation has been properly implemented. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as regular security audits, monitoring for unauthorized configuration changes, and administrator training on recognizing potential social engineering attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and authentication mechanisms in web applications, as even minor oversights in nonce implementation can lead to significant security breaches. Security professionals should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring tools that can detect and block suspicious CSRF attempts. The incident highlights the necessity of following established security frameworks and best practices that emphasize the importance of cryptographic verification in all user-initiated actions within web applications.