CVE-2024-22290 in Custom Dashboard Widgets Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/31/2024
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in AboZain,O7abeeb,UnitOne Custom Dashboard Widgets allows Cross-Site Scripting (XSS).This issue affects Custom Dashboard Widgets: from n/a through 1.3.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-22290 represents a critical security flaw in the Custom Dashboard Widgets plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions ranging from n/a through 1.3.1. This issue demonstrates a dangerous convergence of two distinct vulnerability types that together create a severe attack surface. The primary vulnerability is a Cross-Site Request Forgery flaw that enables malicious actors to manipulate user sessions and execute unauthorized actions within the targeted WordPress environment. The secondary effect manifests as Cross-Site Scripting, which amplifies the initial attack vector into a more comprehensive security breach.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation and sanitization of user input within the dashboard widget functionality. When users interact with the custom dashboard widgets, the plugin fails to properly implement anti-CSRF tokens or other protective mechanisms that would prevent unauthorized requests from being executed on behalf of authenticated users. This weakness allows attackers to craft malicious requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress system, exploiting the trust relationship between the user's browser and the web application. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the authentication and authorization mechanisms that govern dashboard interactions.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-22290 extends beyond simple data theft or modification capabilities. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access within compromised WordPress environments, potentially leading to complete system takeover. The combination of CSRF and XSS creates a particularly dangerous scenario where initial unauthorized requests can be followed by script injection attacks that persistently compromise user sessions. This vulnerability affects the core dashboard functionality, which typically serves as a central management interface for administrators and users, making it a prime target for exploitation. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that dashboard widgets often have elevated privileges and access to sensitive system functions.
Security practitioners should immediately implement mitigations including the installation of patched versions of the Custom Dashboard Widgets plugin, implementation of proper CSRF token validation mechanisms, and enhanced input sanitization protocols. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, while also demonstrating characteristics of CWE-79 for Cross-Site Scripting. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious request patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1548.003 for Abuse of Cloud Infrastructure, as compromised dashboard access can provide attackers with persistent access to cloud-based WordPress installations. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other plugins and themes that may present similar attack vectors through the same architectural flaws.