CVE-2022-29495 Scanner

The Sygnoos Popup Builder for WordPress is a popular plugin used by web developers and site owners to create customizable popups for their websites. These popups are often used for purposes such as marketing promotions, email subscriptions, and enhanced user engagement. The plugin is widely utilized across WordPress sites due to its ease of use and flexibility in design. As an extension to the WordPress platform, it enables users to integrate popups seamlessly into their web content without requiring extensive coding knowledge. Typically, it is employed by small to medium-sized business websites and individual bloggers seeking to enhance their website's interactivity. Due to its widespread usage, it is essential to ensure the security and functionality of the plugin are maintained.

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) is a critical vulnerability allowing attackers to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of a user without their awareness. In the context of the Sygnoos Popup Builder plugin, this vulnerability arises from improper CSRF protection in the plugin settings. Attackers can exploit this flaw by tricking users into executing unwanted actions via malicious links or websites. These unauthorized actions can include altering important settings within the Popup Builder plugin, leading to potential site defacement or inserting malicious content. Users are often unaware that they have visited a malicious URL, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous. By enabling attackers to bypass user intent, the CSRF vulnerability poses a significant risk to the security and integrity of websites using the affected plugin.

The Sygnoos Popup Builder plugin is vulnerable at the endpoint `admin-post.php?action=sgpbSaveSettings`, where improper implementation of CSRF protection occurs. This endpoint handles plugin settings updates and can be manipulated due to the lack of verification mechanisms. During an attack, a user's session is hijacked, and their access rights are leveraged to perform unauthorized modifications. Parameters such as `sgpb-enable-debug-mode` and `sgpb-dont-delete-data` can be altered without the user's consent. The absence of CSRF tokens in request validation allows attackers to exploit the logged-in user's privileges to change settings. By accessing this endpoint through crafted requests, attackers can impact the web application without user awareness.

Exploitation of this CSRF vulnerability can lead to several detrimental outcomes, including unintended modifications to plugin configurations, site visual alterations, and insertion of harmful scripts. These actions can compromise the site's operational integrity and user trust. Affected sites might experience content corruption or malicious code execution within popups, posing a threat to end users. Beyond direct damage, the site's reputation can suffer due to unauthorized content changes and potential exposure to harmful exploits. Remediation is crucial to prevent attackers from gaining control over the plugin settings and ensure the security of the website environment.

REFERENCES

• https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-29495
• https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/popup-builder/wordpress-popup-builder-plugin-4-1-11-cross-site-request-forgery-csrf-leading-to-plugin-settings-update