CVE-2026-84024 in BEAR Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/12/2026
The BEAR WordPress plugin before 1.2.2 does not verify a CSRF nonce before saving its meta field configuration, allowing an attacker to overwrite that configuration by tricking a logged-in administrator into visiting a crafted page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2026
The vulnerability identified in the BEAR WordPress plugin prior to version 1.2.2 represents a critical failure in implementing Cross-Site Request Forgery protections for administrative functions. This flaw specifically affects the mechanism used to save meta field configurations, which are essential settings that define how data is collected and processed by the plugin. In secure web application design, any action that modifies server-side state or configuration must be protected against unauthorized execution via forged requests from other domains. The absence of a CSRF nonce verification in this specific endpoint means that the server trusts any request claiming to originate from an authenticated administrator session without validating its authenticity through cryptographic tokens. This oversight creates a direct pathway for attackers to manipulate plugin settings remotely, bypassing standard security controls intended to prevent such unauthorized state changes.
From a technical perspective, the core issue lies in the lack of validation for the WordPress CSRF nonce during the processing of meta field configuration updates. When an administrator interacts with the plugin's interface, legitimate requests include a unique, time-sensitive token that proves the request was initiated by the user on the intended site. By omitting this check, the application fails to distinguish between genuine administrative actions and maliciously crafted HTTP POST or GET requests generated from external sources. An attacker can exploit this by constructing a webpage containing hidden forms or JavaScript-driven requests that target the vulnerable endpoint with parameters designed to overwrite critical configuration values. Since WordPress sessions are typically long-lived for administrators, an authenticated user who visits the malicious page will inadvertently submit these forged requests using their active session cookies, effectively allowing the attacker to execute actions as if they were the administrator.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to the high privilege level required and the nature of the affected functionality. Although exploitation requires a logged-in administrator with sufficient permissions to modify plugin settings, such users are frequent targets for social engineering or drive-by attacks on compromised websites. Once an attacker successfully overwrites the meta field configuration, they can alter how data is stored, validated, or displayed within WordPress. This could lead to further vulnerabilities being introduced into the system, such as enabling persistent cross-site scripting if input sanitization rules are weakened, or facilitating unauthorized data exfiltration by redirecting form submissions to external servers controlled by the attacker. The ability to change configuration settings essentially grants the attacker administrative control over a critical component of the website's functionality, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of user-submitted data processed by the plugin.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which describes Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF), specifically highlighting the failure to verify anti-CSRF tokens for state-changing operations. It also maps to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1078, Valid Accounts, as it relies on hijacking or tricking an authenticated user into performing actions they did not intend. To mitigate this risk, developers must immediately update the BEAR plugin to version 1.2.2 or later where these checks have been implemented. For sites unable to upgrade instantly, temporary mitigations include restricting access to the WordPress admin area through IP whitelisting or two-factor authentication to reduce the likelihood of an administrator being tricked into visiting malicious content while logged in. Additionally, implementing strict Content Security Policy headers can help prevent some forms of script injection that might be used to facilitate CSRF attacks, although verifying nonces remains the primary and most effective defense against this class of vulnerability.