CVE-2024-43338 in Crowdsignal Dashboard Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/19/2024
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Automattic, Inc. Crowdsignal Dashboard – Polls, Surveys & more allows Cross Site Request Forgery.This issue affects Crowdsignal Dashboard – Polls, Surveys & more: from n/a through 3.1.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/25/2025
The CVE-2024-43338 vulnerability represents a critical Cross-Site Request Forgery flaw within the Crowdsignal Dashboard plugin developed by Automattic, Inc. This vulnerability exists in the plugin's handling of user requests and authentication tokens, specifically affecting versions prior to 3.1.2. The issue stems from insufficient validation of request origins and missing anti-CSRF tokens in critical administrative functions, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability manifests when users access malicious websites or click on crafted links that trigger unintended actions within the plugin's administrative interface.
This CSRF vulnerability operates by exploiting the trust relationship between the web application and the user's browser, allowing an attacker to perform actions without the user's knowledge or consent. The flaw is particularly concerning because it affects administrative functions within the Crowdsignal Dashboard, which could enable attackers to manipulate polls, surveys, and other dashboard features. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data manipulation as it could potentially allow for complete administrative control over the affected WordPress site. The issue is classified under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1566.001 for credential harvesting through social engineering.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for WordPress administrators who rely on the Crowdsignal Dashboard plugin for creating and managing polls and surveys. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to modify poll settings, delete existing surveys, or even inject malicious content into the dashboard. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction, often through phishing campaigns or compromised websites, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently browse untrusted content. The affected versions span a broad range of the plugin's release history, indicating that many installations may be vulnerable, potentially affecting thousands of WordPress sites that utilize this polling and survey functionality.
Organizations and administrators should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to version 3.1.2 or later, which contains the necessary anti-CSRF protections. Additionally, implementing proper input validation, utilizing anti-CSRF tokens for all administrative actions, and establishing proper referer header validation can help reduce the risk of exploitation. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious administrative requests, and users should be educated about the risks of clicking untrusted links. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security audits and maintaining up-to-date software versions. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block CSRF attack patterns, and security teams should review their incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper authentication and authorization mechanisms in web applications, particularly those handling user-generated content and administrative functions.