CVE-2017-18513 : Security Advisory and Response

The admin interface of the responsive-menu plugin for WordPress, version prior to 3.1.4, lacks a CSRF protection mechanism.

Understanding CVE-2017-18513

The responsive-menu plugin for WordPress, before version 3.1.4, is vulnerable to CSRF attacks due to the absence of a protection mechanism.

What is CVE-2017-18513?

The CVE-2017-18513 vulnerability pertains to the lack of Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) protection in the admin interface of the responsive-menu plugin for WordPress.

The Impact of CVE-2017-18513

This vulnerability could allow attackers to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users, leading to potential data breaches or unauthorized modifications within the WordPress site.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-18513

Vulnerability Description

The responsive-menu plugin for WordPress, versions prior to 3.1.4, does not implement CSRF protection, making it susceptible to CSRF attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: responsive-menu plugin for WordPress
Affected Versions: Versions prior to 3.1.4

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by tricking authenticated users into executing malicious actions without their consent through crafted requests.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the responsive-menu plugin to version 3.1.4 or later to mitigate the CSRF vulnerability.
Implement additional security measures such as using CSRF tokens to prevent CSRF attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit plugins for security vulnerabilities.
Educate users on recognizing and avoiding CSRF attacks.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates for WordPress plugins to address known vulnerabilities.