CVE-2022-41996 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

WordPress Avada premium theme <= 7.8.1 - Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability discovered by Dave Jong (Patchstack).

Understanding CVE-2022-41996

A Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in ThemeFusion Avada premium theme versions <= 7.8.1 on WordPress allows arbitrary plugin installation/activation.

What is CVE-2022-41996?

The CVE-2022-41996 vulnerability, assigned to the WordPress Avada premium theme, enables attackers to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of an authenticated user through CSRF attacks.

The Impact of CVE-2022-41996

Exploiting this vulnerability could result in unauthorized installation or activation of plugins, potentially leading to further security breaches or malicious activities on affected WordPress websites.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-41996

This vulnerability is assigned a CVSS base score of 8.8 (High), with a CVSS vector string of CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. The attack complexity is low, and no privileges are required for exploitation.

Vulnerability Description

The CSRF vulnerability in ThemeFusion Avada premium theme versions <= 7.8.1 allows attackers to manipulate an authenticated user into executing malicious actions without their consent.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: ThemeFusion Product: Avada (premium WordPress theme) Affected Versions: <= 7.8.1

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by tricking an authenticated user into visiting a specially crafted web page, leading to the execution of unauthorized actions on the user's behalf.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the CVE-2022-41996 vulnerability:

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update the Avada premium theme to version 7.8.2 or higher to prevent potential CSRF attacks and unauthorized plugin installations or activations.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strict web security measures, educate users about CSRF attacks, and regularly update themes and plugins to safeguard WordPress websites.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches and updates released by ThemeFusion to address vulnerabilities and enhance the security of the Avada premium theme.