Source: cve@mitre.org
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the twimp-wp plugin for WordPress allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks via the message_format parameter in the twimp-wp.php page to wp-admin/options-general.php.
Attackers can exploit a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the twimp-wp WordPress plugin to hijack administrator accounts and inject malicious JavaScript code, leading to complete site compromise. This allows for unauthorized access, data theft, and potential server takeover. The vulnerability leverages the plugin's failure to properly validate user requests, enabling attackers to execute cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks through a crafted URL.
Step 1: Craft Malicious URL: The attacker crafts a URL that exploits the CSRF vulnerability. This URL targets the wp-admin/options-general.php page, specifically manipulating the message_format parameter of the twimp-wp plugin. The crafted URL includes malicious JavaScript code within the message_format parameter, designed to execute when the plugin displays the message.
Step 2: Social Engineering (or other delivery): The attacker delivers the malicious URL to a logged-in WordPress administrator, typically through phishing, social engineering, or other means. The administrator's browser must be logged into the WordPress admin panel for the attack to succeed.
Step 3: Administrator Interaction: The administrator, unaware of the malicious nature of the URL, clicks the link or visits the page. The browser sends the request to the WordPress site.
Step 4: CSRF Exploitation: Because the plugin lacks CSRF protection, the request is processed as if it originated from the administrator. The message_format setting is updated with the attacker's malicious JavaScript code.
Step 5: XSS Execution: When the plugin displays the message (e.g., on the front end of the website or within the admin panel), the injected JavaScript code executes within the administrator's browser.
Step 6: Privilege Escalation/Compromise: The injected JavaScript can perform various malicious actions, such as stealing the administrator's session cookie, creating new administrator accounts, redirecting the administrator to a phishing site, or modifying the website's content. This leads to complete site compromise.
The vulnerability stems from a combination of CSRF and XSS flaws within the twimp-wp plugin. The plugin's twimp-wp.php page, when handling the message_format parameter, fails to properly validate the origin of the request. This allows an attacker to craft a malicious URL that, when visited by an authenticated administrator, updates the plugin's settings to include malicious JavaScript code within the message_format setting. Subsequently, when the plugin displays the message, the injected JavaScript executes, leading to XSS. The root cause is a lack of CSRF protection (e.g., missing anti-CSRF tokens) and insufficient input validation/sanitization of the message_format parameter, allowing for the injection of arbitrary HTML and JavaScript.
While no specific APTs are definitively linked to this specific CVE, the nature of the vulnerability (XSS and admin account takeover) makes it attractive to various threat actors. The ease of exploitation and potential for widespread impact make it a likely target for opportunistic attacks. CISA KEV status: Not listed.
Monitor web server logs for suspicious activity, such as unusual POST requests to wp-admin/options-general.php with the message_format parameter being modified.
Analyze HTTP requests for the presence of malicious JavaScript code within the message_format parameter.
Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block XSS attacks and CSRF attempts.
Monitor WordPress admin activity logs for unexpected changes to plugin settings, especially those related to the twimp-wp plugin.
Use a file integrity monitoring (FIM) tool to detect unauthorized modifications to plugin files, especially twimp-wp.php.
Update the twimp-wp plugin to the latest version. This is the primary and most effective remediation step, as it should include the necessary security patches.
If updating is not immediately possible, disable the twimp-wp plugin until a patched version is available.
Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to filter malicious requests, including XSS and CSRF attempts.
Enforce strong password policies for all administrator accounts.
Regularly scan the WordPress site for vulnerabilities using a security scanner.
Implement CSRF protection (e.g., using anti-CSRF tokens) in custom plugin code, if applicable.
Sanitize all user-supplied input to prevent XSS vulnerabilities.
Review and audit all installed plugins for potential vulnerabilities.