CVE-2024-3474 in Wow Skype Buttons Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/02/2024
The Wow Skype Buttons WordPress plugin before 4.0.4 does not have CSRF checks in some bulk actions, which could allow attackers to make logged in admins perform unwanted actions, such as deleting buttons via CSRF attacks
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2025
The Wow Skype Buttons WordPress plugin version 4.0.3 and earlier contains a critical cross-site request forgery vulnerability that exposes administrators to unauthorized actions. This vulnerability stems from the absence of proper CSRF protection mechanisms within the plugin's bulk action handling functionality. The flaw specifically affects administrative users who are authenticated within the WordPress dashboard, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability allows attackers to craft malicious requests that, when executed by an authenticated administrator, could result in unintended operations such as button deletion or other destructive actions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the plugin's failure to validate the origin of bulk actions performed through the WordPress admin interface. When administrators navigate to the plugin's management section and attempt to execute bulk operations, the system should verify that these requests originate from legitimate sources within the same domain. Without proper CSRF tokens or referer validation, an attacker can construct malicious web pages or emails containing crafted requests that, when visited by an authenticated administrator, will execute the intended actions without the user's knowledge or consent. This represents a classic CSRF attack vector that exploits the trust relationship between the web application and the authenticated user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data deletion, as it undermines the fundamental security model of WordPress administration. Administrators who are logged into their WordPress sites become potential victims of social engineering attacks where they might inadvertently trigger destructive actions simply by visiting malicious websites or opening compromised emails. The vulnerability affects the integrity and availability of the plugin's functionality, potentially leading to complete removal of Skype button configurations or other administrative disruptions. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can result in complete compromise of the plugin's configuration management capabilities.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a variant of CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in web applications. The flaw also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers valid accounts for lateral movement and privilege escalation. Organizations should immediately implement the recommended mitigation of upgrading to version 4.0.4 or later, which includes proper CSRF token validation. Additional defensive measures include implementing Content Security Policy headers, monitoring for unusual bulk actions, and conducting regular security audits of installed WordPress plugins. The vulnerability highlights the importance of CSRF protection in all administrative interfaces and demonstrates the critical need for proper input validation and request origin verification in web applications.