Groundhogg — CRM, Newsletters, and Marketing…: Cross-Site Request Forgery
CVE-2023-2736 is a high-severity cross-site request forgery vulnerability in Groundhogg — CRM, Newsletters, and Marketing Automation from Trainingbusinesspros, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.0 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, but only if a user takes part, for example by opening a link or file. Affected Groundhogg — CRM, Newsletters, and Marketing Automation versions: 2.7.9.8 and earlier. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.4% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of Groundhogg — CRM, Newsletters, and Marketing Automation you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Because the attack needs a user to take part, warn users about unexpected links and files related to this product until it is patched.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trainingbusinesspros | Groundhogg — CRM, Newsletters, and Marketing Automation | 2.7.9.8 and earlier | Not stated |
| Groundhogg | Groundhogg | 2.7.9.8 and earlier | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- RequiredA user must take an action such as opening a file or link.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | CNA (wordfence.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.0 | High | NVD |
Official description
The Groundhogg plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in versions up to, and including, 2.7.9.8. This is due to missing nonce validation in the 'ajax_edit_contact' function. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers to receive the auto login link via shortcode and then modify the assigned user to the auto login link to elevate verified user privileges via a forged request granted they can trick a site administrator into performing an action such as clicking on a link.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Cross-Site Request Forgery
The web application does not, or cannot, sufficiently verify whether a request was intentionally provided by the user who sent the request, which could have originated from an unauthorized actor.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. For example, use anti-CSRF packages such as the OWASP CSRFGuard. Another example is the ESAPI Session Management control, which includes a component for CSRF.
- Ensure that the application is free of cross-site scripting issues (CWE-79), because most CSRF defenses can be bypassed using attacker-controlled script.
- Generate a unique nonce for each form, place the nonce into the form, and verify the nonce upon receipt of the form. Be sure that the nonce is not predictable (CWE-330).
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Third-party and government advisories
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/groundhogg/tags/2.7.9.8/admin/contacts/contacts-page.php#L542Third Party Advisory
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/groundhogg/tags/2.7.9.8/includes/shortcodes.php#L99Third Party Advisory
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/2914493/groundhogg/tags/2.7.10/admin/contacts/contacts-page.phpThird Party Advisory
- wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/9bf472f1-5980-48ee-aa10-aad19b6f2456?source=cveThird Party Advisory
Other vulnerabilities in Groundhogg — CRM, Newsletters, and Marketing Automation
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
Recent Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
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