CVE-2024-7820 in ILC Thickbox Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/12/2024
The ILC Thickbox WordPress plugin through 1.0 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 • 03/12/2025
The CVE-2024-7820 vulnerability affects the ILC Thickbox WordPress plugin version 1.0 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of administrative functions within WordPress environments. This vulnerability stems from the absence of Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) protection mechanisms during the plugin's settings update process, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to manipulate administrative configurations without proper authorization.
The technical flaw manifests as a complete lack of CSRF token validation within the plugin's administrative interface. When administrators access the plugin settings page and submit updates, the system fails to verify that the request originates from a legitimate administrative session. This omission creates a pathway for attackers to craft malicious requests that, when executed in the context of an authenticated admin session, can modify plugin configurations without the administrator's knowledge or consent. The vulnerability specifically impacts the plugin's settings update functionality, making it susceptible to exploitation through social engineering or by tricking administrators into visiting malicious websites that initiate unauthorized requests.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables attackers to manipulate the plugin's behavior and potentially compromise the entire WordPress installation. An attacker could alter critical settings such as file upload restrictions, access controls, or other configuration parameters that affect how the plugin operates within the WordPress environment. This modification capability could lead to further exploitation opportunities, including potential privilege escalation or the introduction of backdoors that persist beyond the initial compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication from the attacker, relying solely on the administrator's session to execute malicious actions.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in web applications. The flaw represents a classic CSRF attack vector that violates fundamental web security principles and can be categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts, as it exploits existing administrative sessions rather than requiring additional credential acquisition. The attack surface is expanded by the fact that WordPress administrators frequently visit multiple websites, increasing the likelihood of successful CSRF exploitation through session hijacking or cross-site request manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-7820 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that implement proper CSRF protection mechanisms. Administrators should ensure their WordPress installations maintain current plugin versions and implement additional security measures such as enabling WordPress's built-in nonce verification for all administrative actions. Security professionals should also consider implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to prevent unauthorized script execution and monitor for unusual administrative activity patterns. The most effective long-term solution involves ensuring all WordPress plugins implement proper CSRF protection using unique tokens for each session, following the principle of least privilege and maintaining regular security audits of installed plugins and themes.