CVE-2024-33679 in FameTheme Demo Importer Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/26/2024
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in FameThemes FameTheme Demo Importer.This issue affects FameTheme Demo Importer: from n/a through 1.1.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2025
The CVE-2024-33679 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the FameThemes FameTheme Demo Importer plugin, which poses significant security risks to WordPress installations. This vulnerability allows authenticated attackers with contributor-level privileges or higher to execute unauthorized actions on behalf of victims without their knowledge or consent. The flaw specifically exists in the plugin versions ranging from the initial release through 1.1.5, indicating a prolonged period during which systems remained exposed to this attack vector.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF tokens or validation mechanisms within the plugin's demo import functionality. When users access the demo importer interface, the application fails to verify the authenticity of requests originating from legitimate sources, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to craft deceptive requests that appear to come from authorized users. This weakness directly maps to CWE-352, which defines Cross-Site Request Forgery as a vulnerability where an attacker tricks a victim's browser into executing unwanted actions on a web application in which the victim is currently authenticated. The vulnerability exploits the trust relationship between the web application and the user's browser, leveraging the fact that the application cannot distinguish between legitimate and malicious requests.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, potentially enabling attackers to compromise entire WordPress installations through unauthorized demo imports that could introduce malicious code or alter critical site configurations. An attacker could exploit this weakness to install backdoors, modify theme settings, or even gain administrative access through the imported demo content. The consequences are particularly severe for websites that rely on demo importers for rapid site setup, as these systems often handle sensitive configuration data and may have elevated privileges within the WordPress environment. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers Valid Accounts and specifically addresses the exploitation of legitimate user credentials to perform unauthorized actions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-33679 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions beyond 1.1.5 where the CSRF protection has been implemented. System administrators must also implement additional security measures including the enforcement of CSRF tokens for all state-changing operations within WordPress plugins, regular security audits of installed plugins, and monitoring for unauthorized administrative activities. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious cross-site request patterns, while also ensuring that user privileges are properly managed through the principle of least privilege. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of validating all user inputs and implementing proper session management controls, as outlined in OWASP Top Ten categories and security frameworks that emphasize the need for robust authentication and authorization mechanisms to prevent CSRF attacks.