CVE-2024-3471 in Button Generator Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/02/2024
The Button Generator WordPress plugin before 3.0 does not have CSRF check in place when bulk deleting, which could allow attackers to make a logged in admin delete buttons via a CSRF attack
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2025
The Button Generator WordPress plugin version 3.0 and earlier contains a critical security vulnerability that stems from the absence of Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) protection mechanisms during bulk deletion operations. This flaw represents a significant weakness in the plugin's security architecture and exposes WordPress administrators to potential unauthorized actions that could compromise the entire website's integrity. The vulnerability specifically affects the administrative interface where bulk deletion functionality is implemented, creating an attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to manipulate button configurations without proper authorization. According to CWE-352, this vulnerability directly maps to Cross-Site Request Forgery, a well-documented security weakness that occurs when a web application fails to validate the origin of requests, allowing attackers to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability lies in the plugin's failure to implement proper CSRF tokens or validation mechanisms when processing bulk deletion requests. When an administrator navigates to the button management interface and initiates a bulk delete operation, the plugin should verify that the request originates from the legitimate administrative interface rather than from a malicious third-party website. Without this validation, an attacker can craft a malicious webpage or email that contains a hidden form submission or javascript code that triggers the bulk deletion functionality when the admin visits the page. This attack vector aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1566.002, which describes the use of malicious HTML content to execute unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability essentially allows an attacker to bypass the normal authentication and authorization checks that should prevent unauthorized modifications to the plugin's configuration data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data loss, as it can lead to complete compromise of the website's button configuration system and potentially provide attackers with a foothold for further exploitation. An attacker who successfully executes this CSRF attack could remove all buttons from the website, disrupting functionality and potentially causing the site to break in unexpected ways. Additionally, since the plugin is designed to manage user interface elements, removing buttons could affect the website's usability and accessibility, particularly if critical navigation elements are removed. The vulnerability also opens the door for more sophisticated attacks where the attacker might attempt to modify button properties or configurations to redirect users to malicious websites, thereby creating a vector for phishing or malware distribution attacks. This scenario aligns with the ATT&CK tactic TA0001, which encompasses initial access and privilege escalation through exploitation of web application vulnerabilities.
Organizations using the Button Generator plugin version 3.0 or earlier should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability. The most effective approach involves upgrading to version 3.0 or later, which includes proper CSRF protection mechanisms. Until the upgrade is complete, administrators should consider implementing additional security measures such as restricting administrative access to known IP addresses, implementing web application firewalls, and monitoring for unusual bulk deletion activities in the plugin's administrative logs. Security teams should also review their incident response procedures to ensure they can detect and respond to potential CSRF attacks targeting WordPress plugins. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper input validation and request origin verification in web applications, particularly in administrative interfaces where sensitive operations can be performed. According to industry best practices for WordPress security, all administrative functions should implement CSRF protection as a baseline security requirement to prevent exactly this type of unauthorized manipulation of web application state.