Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the what3words Address Field 3-word-address-validation-field allows for Stored XSS. This vulnerability affects all versions of the what3words Address Field plugin through version 4.0.15. With a CVSS score of 7.1, it is classified as high severity, indicating a significant risk to organizations utilizing this plugin.
Risk to organizations includes the potential for unauthorized actions to be performed on behalf of users, which may compromise sensitive data. As this vulnerability requires user interaction to exploit, attackers may leverage social engineering tactics to trick users into executing malicious requests.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to prevent exploitation, especially since there is a known exploit status, indicating that the vulnerability is recognized and may be targeted by attackers.
The vulnerability was published on February 16, 2025, and remains deferred in status, which may affect the urgency of remediation based on organizational risk assessments.
Vulnerability Details
The official description states that this vulnerability allows for Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) in the what3words Address Field, leading to Stored XSS. The CVSS score is 7.1, classified as high severity, indicating significant risks associated with its exploitation. The affected product is the what3words Address Field, and it is crucial for users to be aware of the versions impacted, especially those prior to 4.0.15.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of the vulnerability lies in insufficient validation of user requests, allowing attackers to forge requests on behalf of legitimate users. The attack vector is network-based, and the complexity is low, making exploitation easier for attackers. No privileges are required to exploit this vulnerability, but user interaction is necessary.
The impact on confidentiality is low, as is the impact on integrity and availability. However, the scope of the attack changes, meaning that once the attacker has exploited the vulnerability, they may gain access to resources beyond the initially targeted user.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Real-world deployment of the what3words Address Field plugin with this vulnerability presents risks that could lead to unauthorized actions being taken on behalf of users, potentially exposing sensitive information or leading to further compromise within the organization's systems.
The blast radius for this vulnerability is significant, particularly for organizations that rely on user input for critical functions. Organizations should consider the urgency of addressing this vulnerability based on its CVSS score and the potential for exploitation.
Given the CVSS score of 7.1, organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle to mitigate the risks associated with exploitation.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
This vulnerability affects all versions of the what3words Address Field plugin prior to version 4.0.15. Organizations using older versions should consider upgrading to mitigate the risk of exploitation.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should implement the following remediation steps: apply the latest updates for the what3words Address Field plugin, specifically version 4.0.15 or later. If immediate patching is not possible, consider disabling the plugin until a patch can be applied. Additionally, implementing CSRF tokens for forms can help mitigate future CSRF vulnerabilities.
For more information on effective security practices, organizations can refer to our penetration testing services.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor for unusual activity related to the what3words Address Field plugin, including unauthorized changes to user data or unexpected user interactions. Log files should be reviewed for any anomalies that may indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of this vulnerability lies in its demonstration of the potential for CSRF attacks to lead to Stored XSS, a common threat in web applications. Security teams should remain vigilant in monitoring plugin vulnerabilities and implementing robust security measures to prevent exploitation.
This incident underscores the importance of keeping software up to date and implementing security best practices. Organizations can learn from this to enhance their security posture by regularly reviewing and updating their security measures.
For further insights on vulnerability management, organizations can review our vulnerability management program design best practices.
Additionally, reviewing the latest trends in application security can help organizations stay ahead of emerging threats. Our blog on vulnerability exposure severity trends provides valuable insights.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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