CVE-2024-53765
📋 TL;DR
This CSRF vulnerability in the Think201 Mins To Read WordPress plugin allows attackers to trick authenticated administrators into performing actions that inject malicious scripts. When exploited, it leads to stored cross-site scripting (XSS), potentially affecting all users who visit compromised pages. WordPress sites using vulnerable versions of this plugin are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Think201 Mins To Read WordPress Plugin
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers could inject persistent malicious scripts that steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform actions as authenticated users across the entire WordPress site.
Likely Case
Attackers would typically use this to inject advertising scripts, cryptocurrency miners, or credential-stealing payloads that affect visitors of compromised pages.
If Mitigated
With proper CSRF protections and input validation, the attack would fail, preventing any script injection.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires social engineering to trick an authenticated administrator into clicking a malicious link while logged in.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Version after 1.2.2
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Mins To Read' plugin. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available. 5. If no update appears, deactivate and delete the plugin, then install the latest version from WordPress repository.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Implement CSRF Protection
WordPressAdd nonce verification to plugin forms and AJAX requests
Add wp_nonce_field() to forms and check with wp_verify_nonce()
Disable Plugin
WordPressTemporarily disable the vulnerable plugin until patched
Navigate to WordPress admin > Plugins > Installed Plugins > Deactivate 'Mins To Read'
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block CSRF attempts and XSS payloads
- Restrict admin access to trusted networks only and implement multi-factor authentication
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin > Plugins > Installed Plugins for 'Mins To Read' version. If version is 1.2.2 or earlier, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin list --name='mins-to-read' --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
After updating, verify the plugin version shows higher than 1.2.2 in WordPress admin plugins page.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with plugin-specific actions
- Multiple failed nonce verification attempts in WordPress debug logs
Network Indicators:
- Unexpected iframe or script tags in page responses that reference external domains
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("admin-ajax.php" AND "action=mins_to_read")