CVE-2025-30541 in Info Boxes Shortcode and Widget Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/24/2025
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in OTWthemes Info Boxes Shortcode and Widget allows Cross Site Request Forgery. This issue affects Info Boxes Shortcode and Widget: from n/a through 1.15.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2025
This cross-site request forgery vulnerability resides within the OTWthemes Info Boxes Shortcode and Widget plugin, specifically impacting versions ranging from an unspecified initial state through version 1.15. The flaw represents a critical security weakness that enables malicious actors to exploit user sessions and execute unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF measures within the plugin's handling of user requests, particularly when processing shortcode and widget interactions. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious web pages or emails that trick users into performing unintended actions such as modifying plugin settings, deleting content, or altering user permissions. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data manipulation as it can potentially allow for privilege escalation or complete system compromise when combined with other attack vectors. From a technical perspective, the issue manifests when the plugin fails to validate the origin of requests or implement proper token-based authentication mechanisms that would prevent unauthorized submissions from external domains.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability demonstrates a failure in input validation and request origin verification within the plugin's backend processing logic. When users interact with the Info Boxes Shortcode and Widget functionality, the system should validate that requests originate from legitimate sources within the same domain and contain appropriate security tokens. However, the absence of such validation creates an opportunity for attackers to forge requests that appear to come from authenticated users. This flaw aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities in web applications. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical expertise as attackers can simply embed malicious requests within HTML pages or utilize social engineering techniques to entice users into triggering the forged actions. The affected plugin's architecture does not implement the necessary protections that would normally be expected in modern web applications, such as synchronizer tokens or origin checks that would prevent unauthorized requests from being processed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for WordPress installations utilizing the affected plugin, as it creates a persistent security risk that can be exploited by attackers without requiring any special privileges or advanced technical knowledge. Organizations using the OTWthemes Info Boxes Shortcode and Widget plugin are particularly vulnerable since the flaw affects all versions from the initial release through 1.15, suggesting that the vulnerability has existed for an extended period without proper mitigation. The consequences of exploitation can range from data corruption and unauthorized modifications to complete loss of control over plugin functionality. Attackers could potentially modify widget configurations, delete important information boxes, or manipulate the display of content in ways that could affect user experience or even compromise site security. When combined with other vulnerabilities or social engineering attacks, this CSRF flaw could enable more sophisticated attacks such as privilege escalation or the installation of malicious code within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability affects the integrity of user sessions and can be particularly dangerous in environments where administrative privileges are granted to multiple users, as it could allow attackers to perform administrative actions without proper authorization.
Mitigation strategies for this CSRF vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through plugin updates to versions that address the security flaw. System administrators should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all installations of the affected plugin and ensure prompt updates are applied across all affected systems. Additionally, implementing additional security layers such as web application firewalls can provide protection against exploitation attempts while awaiting official patches. The implementation of proper CSRF token validation mechanisms should be enforced at the application level, ensuring that all state-changing operations require valid authentication tokens that are tied to the user's current session. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers and other defensive measures to reduce the attack surface. From an operational perspective, regular security audits should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other plugins or custom code implementations. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1531 technique for 'Modify Existing Service' and T1078 for 'Valid Accounts' as it leverages authenticated user sessions to perform unauthorized actions. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts and implement network-based detection measures that can identify suspicious cross-site request patterns. Regular patch management processes should be strengthened to ensure timely application of security updates for all third-party components and plugins within the WordPress ecosystem.