CVE-2024-56015
📋 TL;DR
This CSRF vulnerability in the John Godley Tidy Up WordPress plugin allows attackers to trick authenticated administrators into performing unintended actions, which can lead to reflected cross-site scripting (XSS). The vulnerability affects all WordPress sites using Tidy Up plugin versions up to 1.3, potentially compromising site security and user data.
💻 Affected Systems
- John Godley Tidy Up 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 malicious scripts that steal administrator credentials, deface websites, or install backdoors, leading to complete site compromise and data theft.
Likely Case
Attackers create fake admin actions that inject malicious JavaScript, potentially stealing session cookies or redirecting users to phishing sites.
If Mitigated
With proper CSRF protections and content security policies, the attack surface is significantly reduced, though some risk remains if users are tricked into clicking malicious links.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires tricking an authenticated administrator into clicking a malicious link or visiting a compromised page. The CSRF leads to reflected XSS, making it relatively straightforward for attackers.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.4 or later
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Tidy Up' and check if update is available. 4. Click 'Update Now' to upgrade to version 1.4 or later. 5. Verify the plugin is updated successfully.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Tidy Up Plugin
allTemporarily deactivate the vulnerable plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate tidy-up
Implement CSRF Protection Headers
allAdd security headers to WordPress to help mitigate CSRF attacks
Add to .htaccess: Header set X-Frame-Options "SAMEORIGIN"
Add to wp-config.php: define('FORCE_SSL_ADMIN', true);
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict admin access to trusted IP addresses only using firewall rules or .htaccess restrictions
- Implement strong content security policies (CSP) to prevent XSS execution even if CSRF succeeds
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel > Plugins > Installed Plugins, look for Tidy Up version. If version is 1.3 or earlier, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get tidy-up --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
After updating, verify Tidy Up plugin shows version 1.4 or later in WordPress admin plugins list.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to Tidy Up admin endpoints
- Multiple failed CSRF token validations in WordPress logs
- Unexpected script injections in plugin settings
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests containing malicious script payloads in parameters
- Cross-origin requests to Tidy Up admin endpoints
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("tidy-up" OR "CSRF token") AND ("failed" OR "invalid" OR "malicious")