CVE-2024-39681 in Cooked Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/18/2024
Cooked is a recipe plugin for WordPress. The Cooked plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) in versions up to, and including, 1.7.15.4 due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the AJAX action handler. This vulnerability could allow an attacker to trick users into performing an action they didn't intend to perform under their current authentication. This issue has been addressed in release version 1.8.0. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2025
The Cooked WordPress plugin version 1.7.15.4 and earlier contains a critical cross-site request forgery vulnerability that compromises user authentication integrity. This vulnerability stems from inadequate nonce validation within the plugin's AJAX action handlers, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit user sessions without their knowledge or consent. The flaw specifically affects the plugin's ability to verify legitimate user requests, allowing attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to originate from authenticated users. The vulnerability impacts the core functionality of the plugin by undermining the security mechanisms designed to prevent unauthorized modifications to recipe content and user preferences. According to CWE-352, this represents a classic cross-site request forgery implementation where the application fails to validate the origin of requests, making it susceptible to manipulation by attackers who can leverage the victim's authenticated session.
The technical execution of this CSRF attack involves an attacker constructing malicious web pages or emails that contain embedded requests to the vulnerable Cooked plugin endpoints. When an authenticated user visits such a page, their browser automatically submits the malicious request without their awareness, potentially allowing the attacker to perform unauthorized actions such as modifying recipes, deleting content, or altering user settings. The vulnerability occurs because the AJAX handlers do not properly verify the nonce tokens that should confirm the legitimacy of the request. This weakness is particularly dangerous in the WordPress ecosystem where plugins often handle sensitive user data and administrative functions. The lack of proper validation creates a scenario where the plugin cannot distinguish between legitimate user-initiated requests and those crafted by attackers, effectively bypassing the authentication layer that should protect against unauthorized modifications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation to potentially compromise the entire WordPress site's integrity and user trust. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to inject malicious recipes, modify existing content, or even escalate privileges within the plugin's functionality. The vulnerability affects all users who have administrative or contributor roles within the WordPress site, making it particularly dangerous for sites with multiple users or those handling sensitive recipe data. Organizations relying on the Cooked plugin for recipe management, cooking websites, or food-related businesses could face significant reputational damage if this vulnerability is exploited. The issue also represents a broader concern for WordPress plugin security, as it demonstrates how seemingly minor validation gaps can create substantial security risks. According to ATT&CK framework technique T1078, this vulnerability enables adversaries to gain access to valid accounts and potentially escalate privileges within the affected system, making it a valuable vector for persistent threats.
Security practitioners should prioritize upgrading to version 1.8.0 or later to remediate this vulnerability, as no effective workarounds exist for this specific CSRF implementation. The upgrade process should include thorough testing to ensure that legitimate plugin functionality remains intact while the nonce validation is properly implemented. Organizations should also conduct security audits of their WordPress installations to identify other plugins that may be vulnerable to similar CSRF attacks. The vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing proper input validation and authentication checks in AJAX handlers, particularly in WordPress environments where plugins frequently interact with user data through asynchronous requests. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in plugin usage that might indicate exploitation attempts, and user education about suspicious links and content should be emphasized to prevent social engineering aspects of this attack vector. The fix in version 1.8.0 demonstrates the critical need for regular security updates and the implementation of robust validation mechanisms that align with industry best practices for web application security.