The Mortgage Lead Capture System plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) in all versions up to, and including, 8.2.11. This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to reset the plugin's settings via a forged request, provided they can trick a site administrator into performing an action such as clicking on a malicious link. The lack of proper nonce validation on the 'wprequal_reset_defaults' action is the root cause of this issue.
With a CVSS score of 4.3, this vulnerability is classified as medium severity. Organizations using this plugin should be aware of the potential risks, as attackers may leverage this flaw to manipulate plugin configurations, leading to unauthorized changes. The urgency for defenders is highlighted by the need to address this vulnerability promptly to maintain the integrity of their systems.
As of now, no public exploits have been confirmed, and the vulnerability is not listed in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) database. However, organizations should proactively implement mitigations to avoid potential exploitation, as the situation may change.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to prevent any potential exploitation of this vulnerability, ensuring that their WordPress installations remain secure.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability is described as follows: The Mortgage Lead Capture System plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in all versions up to, and including, 8.2.11. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the 'wprequal_reset_defaults' action.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 4.3, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is network-based, and the attack complexity is low, meaning that the attacker does not require special conditions to exploit this vulnerability. No privileges are required, but user interaction is necessary for the attack to be successful.
The affected product is the WPrequal plugin developed by Kevin Brent. The disclosure date of this vulnerability was February 18, 2025.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper validation of nonces within the plugin. CSRF attacks typically exploit the trust that a web application has in the user's browser, allowing attackers to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. In this case, an attacker could craft a malicious link that, when clicked by a site administrator, would reset the plugin's settings without their consent.
The attack vector is network-based, as the exploit can be initiated through a simple HTTP request. The complexity of the attack is low, meaning that it can be executed with minimal effort. Additionally, the attacker does not require any privileges to exploit this vulnerability, but they do require user interaction from the targeted administrator.
The impact of this vulnerability includes a low integrity impact, as the attacker can change settings but does not gain full control of the system. There is no confidentiality or availability impact, as the vulnerability does not expose sensitive data or affect system uptime.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world risk to organizations includes potential unauthorized changes to the plugin's settings, which could lead to further vulnerabilities or disruptions in service. The blast radius is relatively contained, affecting only installations of the WPrequal plugin that have not been updated. However, the potential for abuse exists, particularly if an attacker can gain the trust of an administrator.
Given the medium CVSS score, organizations should schedule remediation. This includes applying patches and reviewing security configurations to prevent unauthorized access. The low EPSS score indicates a low probability of exploitation, but this does not mitigate the need for proactive measures.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
All versions of the Mortgage Lead Capture System plugin for WordPress up to and including 8.2.11 are affected by this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should ensure that they update to the latest version of the Mortgage Lead Capture System plugin. Implementing nonce validation for all actions that require user interaction can help prevent CSRF attacks. Additionally, organizations should consider conducting a thorough review of their security configurations and user access controls.
For further guidance on security assessments, organizations may refer to resources such as application security assessments to identify potential weaknesses in their systems.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for unusual activity related to the WPrequal plugin, especially actions that may indicate attempts to reset settings. Additionally, behavioral anomalies such as unexpected changes to plugin configurations should be tracked.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of this vulnerability lies in the increasing sophistication of CSRF attacks. Organizations should learn from this incident to improve their security posture and enforce best practices in nonce validation. This case highlights the need for continuous security training for developers to avoid similar vulnerabilities in the future.
For further insights into security practices, organizations can explore penetration testing methodology and vulnerability management program design strategies to enhance their security frameworks.
Additionally, organizations should consider the benefits of API penetration testing to identify potential weaknesses in their applications and ensure robust security measures are in place.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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