CVE-2024-31373 in E2Pdf Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/15/2024
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in E2Pdf e2pdf e2pdf.This issue affects e2pdf: from n/a through <= 1.20.27.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2026
The CVE-2024-31373 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the E2Pdf e2pdf plugin, which is widely used for PDF generation capabilities in WordPress environments. This vulnerability exists in versions ranging from the initial release through version 1.20.27, making it a significant security risk for numerous WordPress installations that rely on this plugin for document processing and management functions. The affected plugin operates within the WordPress ecosystem, leveraging standard web application frameworks that are susceptible to CSRF attacks when proper validation mechanisms are absent or improperly implemented.
The technical flaw stems from the plugin's failure to implement adequate anti-CSRF protection measures during critical administrative operations. When users with administrative privileges access the plugin's interface, the application does not properly validate the origin of requests or verify the authenticity of user intentions through anti-CSRF tokens or similar protective mechanisms. This absence allows malicious actors to craft specially crafted requests that can be executed on behalf of authenticated users without their knowledge or consent. The vulnerability specifically impacts the plugin's administrative functions where users can modify settings, upload files, or perform other privileged operations that could compromise the entire WordPress installation or the data processed through the PDF generation system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or modification, as it can potentially lead to complete system compromise when combined with other attack vectors or when the plugin is used in conjunction with other vulnerable components. An attacker could leverage this CSRF vulnerability to escalate privileges, modify plugin configurations, or even execute arbitrary code if the plugin's architecture permits such operations. The risk is particularly elevated in environments where administrators frequently use the plugin's administrative features, as the attack surface increases with user engagement. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.002 for credential harvesting through forged requests.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through plugin updates to versions that have been patched against CSRF attacks. Organizations should implement additional protective measures such as network-level access controls, web application firewalls, and regular security audits of plugin installations. Security teams should also consider implementing proper input validation and output encoding practices, along with monitoring for suspicious administrative activities that could indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper anti-CSRF token mechanisms should be enforced at the application level to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other components of the WordPress environment. Regular vulnerability assessments and security training for administrators can help reduce the risk of successful exploitation through social engineering or other attack vectors that might accompany CSRF attacks.