CVE-2024-1906 in Categorify Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/27/2024
The Categorify plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in all versions up to, and including, 1.0.7.4. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the categorifyAjaxAddCategory function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to add categories 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 • 04/18/2025
The CVE-2024-1906 vulnerability affects the Categorify plugin for WordPress, representing a critical cross-site request forgery weakness that compromises the integrity of WordPress site administration. This vulnerability exists in all plugin versions up to and including 1.0.7.4, making it a widespread concern for WordPress users who have not updated their installations. The flaw specifically targets the categorifyAjaxAddCategory function which lacks proper nonce validation mechanisms, creating an exploitable pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the plugin's functionality without authentication.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of proper nonce validation within the plugin's AJAX handling mechanism. Nonces serve as cryptographic tokens that verify the authenticity of requests and prevent unauthorized actions from being executed on behalf of authenticated users. When a nonce is missing or incorrectly validated, it allows attackers to forge requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress system. The categorifyAjaxAddCategory function processes category addition requests through AJAX calls, but fails to validate that these requests originate from legitimate administrative actions rather than maliciously crafted payloads.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it enables attackers to manipulate the content structure of WordPress sites through unauthorized category creation. An unauthenticated attacker can construct a malicious request that, when triggered by an administrator, creates new categories within the site's taxonomy system. This capability allows for potential content manipulation, SEO poisoning, or even the creation of misleading navigation structures that could confuse site visitors or be used for phishing purposes. The vulnerability particularly targets administrators who may be tricked into clicking malicious links or visiting compromised websites that contain the forged requests.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the web application layer where administrative functions are exposed. This weakness can be categorized under CWE-352, which describes Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities that occur when applications fail to validate that requests originate from legitimate sources. The attack vector requires social engineering elements where administrators must be convinced to interact with malicious content, but once triggered, the attack can execute without requiring authentication credentials. Organizations using the Categorify plugin are particularly vulnerable because the flaw exists at the core functionality level of the plugin's administrative interface.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate plugin updates to versions that address the nonce validation issue, as well as implementing additional security measures such as restricting administrative access through proper user role management and monitoring for unauthorized administrative activities. The WordPress security community should also consider implementing additional validation layers and ensuring that all AJAX endpoints properly verify request authenticity through robust nonce implementation. Regular security audits of third-party plugins and adherence to WordPress security best practices can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced into WordPress installations.