Source: cve@mitre.org
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in the Simplelife plugin 1.2 and earlier for WordPress allow remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks via the (1) simplehoverback, (2) simplehovertext, (3) flickrback, or (4) simple_flimit parameter in the simplelife.php page to wp-admin/options-general.php.
WordPress websites using the Simplelife plugin are vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks, allowing attackers to hijack administrator sessions. This vulnerability enables attackers to inject malicious JavaScript (XSS) through crafted requests, potentially leading to complete site compromise and data theft. The plugin's failure to properly validate user input allows attackers to manipulate settings, leading to arbitrary code execution.
Step 1: Victim Login: The administrator logs into the WordPress admin panel.
Step 2: Attacker Crafting: The attacker crafts a malicious HTML page or email containing a hidden form or JavaScript that automatically submits a request to the vulnerable wp-admin/options-general.php page.
Step 3: Payload Injection: The attacker's crafted request includes a malicious JavaScript payload within one of the vulnerable parameters (e.g., simplehovertext). This payload is designed to execute arbitrary code within the administrator's browser.
Step 4: Victim Interaction (or Background Execution): The administrator either visits the attacker's malicious page (or opens a malicious email) or is tricked into clicking a link. The hidden form or JavaScript automatically submits the crafted request to the WordPress site.
Step 5: Setting Modification: The server processes the request, updating the Simplelife plugin's settings with the attacker's malicious JavaScript payload.
Step 6: XSS Execution: When the administrator subsequently views any page that uses the Simplelife plugin, the injected JavaScript executes in their browser, leading to XSS. This could involve stealing cookies, creating new administrator accounts, or redirecting the administrator to a phishing site.
The vulnerability stems from a lack of CSRF protection and insufficient input validation within the Simplelife plugin's options update functionality. Specifically, the plugin fails to verify the origin of requests, allowing attackers to forge requests that modify plugin settings. The simplehoverback, simplehovertext, flickrback, and simple_flimit parameters, which control various plugin functionalities, are vulnerable. By crafting a malicious request containing a payload, an attacker can inject arbitrary JavaScript code into these parameters. When an administrator views the WordPress admin panel, the injected JavaScript executes, leading to XSS and potential account takeover. The root cause is the absence of CSRF tokens and inadequate sanitization of user-supplied data before storing it in the database.
While no specific APTs are directly linked, the ease of exploitation and potential for complete site compromise make this a target for various threat actors. This type of vulnerability is often leveraged by opportunistic attackers and could be used as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks. Not listed on CISA KEV.
Monitor web server logs for suspicious POST requests to wp-admin/options-general.php with the simplehoverback, simplehovertext, flickrback, or simple_flimit parameters, especially those containing unusual JavaScript or HTML code.
Analyze HTTP request headers for missing or invalid CSRF tokens.
Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to detect and block malicious requests containing XSS payloads.
Monitor for changes in plugin settings, especially those related to the Simplelife plugin.
Update the Simplelife plugin to version 1.3 or later, which includes a fix for this vulnerability. If unable to update, remove the plugin.
Implement CSRF protection in the plugin's code by generating and validating CSRF tokens for all forms and sensitive operations.
Sanitize all user-supplied input to prevent XSS attacks. Use output encoding to ensure that any user-provided data is properly escaped before being displayed in the browser.
Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to detect and block malicious requests.
Regularly scan the website for vulnerabilities using a vulnerability scanner.
Review and harden the WordPress configuration, including disabling unnecessary plugins and themes.