CVE-2024-3477 in Popup Box Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/02/2024
The Popup Box WordPress plugin before 2.2.7 does not have CSRF checks in some bulk actions, which could allow attackers to make logged in admins perform unwanted actions, such as deleting popups via CSRF attacks
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2025
The Popup Box WordPress plugin vulnerability CVE-2024-3477 represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of WordPress administrative operations. This vulnerability exists in versions prior to 2.2.7 and specifically affects the plugin's bulk action functionality. The absence of proper Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) protection mechanisms creates a significant attack vector that can be exploited by malicious actors to manipulate administrative workflows without user consent. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it targets authenticated administrators who are logged into their WordPress sites, making the attack surface more dangerous as it leverages existing privileges.
The technical implementation flaw stems from the plugin's failure to validate CSRF tokens during bulk operations within the administrative interface. When administrators perform actions such as deleting popups through the bulk action menu, the plugin should verify that the request originates from a legitimate administrative session. Without this validation, attackers can craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated users. This allows them to execute unauthorized operations including popup deletion, potentially disrupting website functionality and user experience. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in web applications, and demonstrates poor input validation practices that enable privilege escalation attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation to potentially compromise entire website functionalities. Attackers can exploit this weakness to remove important popup elements that may contain critical information, promotional content, or user engagement mechanisms. In a broader context, this vulnerability can be leveraged as part of larger attack campaigns where attackers first establish footholds by removing security-related popups before deploying more sophisticated attacks. The implications are particularly severe for websites that rely heavily on popup notifications for user engagement, marketing campaigns, or security alerts. This vulnerability can also serve as a stepping stone for attackers to further compromise the WordPress installation by removing security mechanisms that might otherwise alert administrators to malicious activities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-3477 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to version 2.2.7 or later, which includes proper CSRF token validation. Administrators should also implement additional security measures such as regular security audits of installed plugins, monitoring for unauthorized administrative actions, and implementing Web Application Firewalls that can detect and block suspicious bulk action requests. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and ATT&CK framework, particularly in relation to privilege management and input validation. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts and regularly reviewing plugin permissions to ensure that only necessary functionality is available to administrators. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to verify that all bulk operations now properly validate CSRF tokens and that no other similar vulnerabilities exist within the plugin's codebase.