CVE-2024-3632 in Smart Image Gallery Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/13/2024
The Smart Image Gallery WordPress plugin before 1.0.19 does not have CSRF check in place when updating its settings, which could allow attackers to make a logged in admin change them via a CSRF attack
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/18/2025
The Smart Image Gallery WordPress plugin version 1.0.18 and earlier contains a critical security vulnerability that stems from the absence of Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) protection mechanisms within its administrative settings update functionality. This flaw represents a fundamental failure in the plugin's security architecture and directly violates established web application security principles that mandate comprehensive CSRF protection for all administrative operations. The vulnerability exists because the plugin fails to implement proper anti-CSRF tokens or validation mechanisms when processing configuration changes submitted through administrative interfaces, creating an exploitable window for malicious actors who can manipulate authenticated admin sessions.
This vulnerability operates through a classic CSRF attack vector where an attacker crafts malicious web pages or email attachments that, when visited by an authenticated administrator, automatically submit requests to the vulnerable plugin's settings update endpoints. The attack exploits the trust relationship between the WordPress admin interface and the user's browser session, allowing unauthorized modifications to the plugin's configuration without the administrator's knowledge or consent. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it targets the administrative backend where sensitive configuration data resides, potentially enabling attackers to alter security settings, modify plugin behavior, or establish persistent access vectors within the WordPress environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes and represents a significant threat to WordPress site integrity and security posture. Attackers could potentially modify image gallery settings to redirect users to malicious domains, alter access controls, or disable security features that protect against other attack vectors. The vulnerability affects all WordPress installations using the affected plugin version and requires no special privileges beyond having a valid admin session, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through social engineering techniques such as phishing campaigns or compromised websites. This weakness creates a persistent threat that could remain undetected for extended periods, as the changes would appear to originate from legitimate administrative activity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery flaws in web applications, and demonstrates a failure to implement proper session management and request validation controls. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1078 Valid Accounts and T1566 Phishing, as it leverages authenticated sessions and requires user interaction to initiate the attack. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the patched version 1.0.19 or later, which incorporates proper CSRF token validation mechanisms, and conduct thorough security audits of all installed plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, administrators should implement network-based protections such as web application firewalls and monitor for unusual administrative activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security controls and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that protect against both known and emerging threats in WordPress environments.