CVE-2024-1446 in NextScripts Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/22/2024
The NextScripts: Social Networks Auto-Poster plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in all versions up to, and including, 4.4.3. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the nxssnap-reposter page. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to delete arbitrary posts or pages 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 • 03/28/2025
The NextScripts: Social Networks Auto-Poster plugin for WordPress represents a widely used tool that automates social media posting across multiple platforms including facebook twitter and linkedin. This plugin has been identified as vulnerable to cross-site request forgery attacks affecting all versions up to and including 4.4.3. The vulnerability stems from inadequate security controls within the nxssnap-reposter page which handles administrative functions for republishing content. This particular flaw creates a significant security exposure that could be exploited by malicious actors seeking to compromise wordpress installations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability lies in the absence or improper validation of nonce tokens within the plugin's administrative interface. Nonce validation serves as a critical security mechanism that ensures requests originate from legitimate administrative actions and prevents unauthorized operations. Without proper nonce verification the plugin fails to authenticate whether a request to delete posts or pages is genuinely initiated by an authenticated administrator or if it represents a crafted malicious attempt. This failure allows attackers to construct forged requests that appear legitimate to the wordpress system when executed by administrators.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation as it provides attackers with the capability to delete arbitrary posts and pages from compromised wordpress installations. This represents a serious threat to content integrity and website availability since administrators could unknowingly execute destructive actions while browsing malicious websites or clicking on compromised links. The attack vector specifically requires social engineering to trick administrators into performing the malicious action, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it leverages human factors alongside technical weaknesses.
From a cybersecurity perspective this vulnerability aligns with common weakness enumeration 352 which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery conditions in software applications. The flaw also maps to attack technique t1213 within the mitre att&ck framework as it involves exploitation of web application vulnerabilities to execute unauthorized administrative commands. Organizations running affected versions of this plugin face potential data loss and service disruption risks that could impact their online presence and reputation. The vulnerability demonstrates how third-party plugins can introduce significant security gaps into otherwise well-protected wordpress environments.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of the affected plugin to version 4.4.4 or later which includes proper nonce validation controls. Administrators should also implement additional security measures such as role-based access controls and regular security audits of installed plugins. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect unusual administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date wordpress installations and regularly reviewing plugin security status through trusted security vendors and wordpress plugin directories. Organizations should also consider implementing additional layers of protection including web application firewalls and security headers to reduce the attack surface available to potential exploiters.