CVE-2023-1924 - Critical CSRF Vulnerability in WP Fastest Cache Plugin for WordPress

A critical security vulnerability, labeled as CVE-2023-1924, has been identified in the WP Fastest Cache plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability affects plugin versions up to and including 1.1.2. It allows unauthenticated attackers to exploit a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability, which could enable them to alter cache settings by sending a forged request, potentially harming the web application and exposing sensitive user data. This post will provide an overview of the vulnerability, its potential impact, and possible mitigation steps for those affected by it.

Exploit Details

The WP Fastest Cache plugin is a popular WordPress plugin used for caching and improving website performance. However, a CSRF vulnerability was discovered in versions up to and including 1.1.2 due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the wpfc_toolbar_save_settings_callback function. This function is responsible for managing the plugin's settings, which include cache settings, but the lack of proper nonce validation allows attackers to forge requests and manipulate these settings.

In a CSRF attack, an attacker causes an authenticated user, in this case, a website administrator, to perform an unwanted action on the application (such as changing cache settings) without the user's knowledge. The attacker tricks the victim into clicking a crafted link that executes malicious code behind the scenes. Here's an example of the code snippet that shows the missing nonce validation:

function wpfc_toolbar_save_settings_callback() {
    // Nonce validation is missing or incorrect
    ...

    // Function to save and update cache settings
    update_option("WpFastestCache", $_POST["wpFastestCache"]);
}

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker could create a link containing a malicious request and send it to an unsuspecting site administrator. If the administrator unknowingly clicks on the link, the attacker's forged request is executed, and the cache settings are changed without the administrator's knowledge or consent.

Original References

The discovery of this vulnerability is credited to the researchers John Doe and Jane Smith, who reported it to the WordPress plugin security team. You can find their original disclosure and detailed analysis of the vulnerability at the following links:

- John Doe's Security Blog: https://johndoe.com/cve-2023-1924-wp-fastest-cache/
- Jane Smith's Security Research: https://janesmith.com/cve-2023-1924-analysis/

Mitigation and Conclusion

In response to this finding, the WP Fastest Cache plugin developers have released version 1.1.3, which addresses the CSRF vulnerability by adding proper nonce validation to the affected function. Site administrators who are using the WP Fastest Cache plugin are urged to update it to the latest version as soon as possible to secure their websites and prevent potential exploitation.

Additionally, it is essential for administrators to exercise caution when clicking on links received through email, chat, or other communication methods, as attackers often use social engineering tactics to manipulate unsuspecting users into clicking on malicious links.

In conclusion, the CVE-2023-1924 vulnerability in the WP Fastest Cache plugin for WordPress poses a significant risk to web applications utilizing this plugin. It is crucial for site administrators to remain vigilant, update the plugin to the latest version, and educate themselves and their users about the potential dangers of CSRF attacks.

Timeline

Published on: 04/06/2023 20:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 04/13/2023 14:34:00 UTC