CVE-2018-20231 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

WordPress Two-Factor-Authentication Plugin CSRF Vulnerability

Understanding CVE-2018-20231

What is CVE-2018-20231?

The CVE-2018-20231 vulnerability is a Cross Site Request Forgery (CSRF) issue found in the Two-Factor-Authentication plugin for WordPress before version 1.3.13. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to bypass the 2FA feature by exploiting a missing nonce validation in the tfa_enable_tfa parameter, enabling them to disable the 2FA functionality.

The Impact of CVE-2018-20231

This vulnerability poses a significant risk as it can compromise the security of WordPress websites using the affected Two-Factor-Authentication plugin.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-20231

Vulnerability Description

The CSRF vulnerability in the Two-Factor-Authentication plugin for WordPress allows attackers to disable the 2FA feature by exploiting the missing nonce validation in the tfa_enable_tfa parameter.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: WordPress Two-Factor-Authentication Plugin
Vendor: N/A
Versions Affected: All versions before 1.3.13

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by sending a crafted request to the target WordPress site, manipulating the tfa_enable_tfa parameter to disable the 2FA feature.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Two-Factor-Authentication plugin to version 1.3.13 or newer to patch the CSRF vulnerability.
Monitor for any unauthorized changes to the 2FA settings.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update all WordPress plugins and themes to prevent security vulnerabilities.
Implement additional security measures such as web application firewalls to enhance website security.

Patching and Updates

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