CVE-2024-7574 Overview
The Christmasify! plugin for WordPress contains a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in versions up to and including 1.5.5. The flaw stems from missing nonce validation on the plugin's options function. Unauthenticated attackers can modify plugin settings and inject malicious web scripts through a forged request. Exploitation requires tricking a site administrator into clicking a crafted link or visiting an attacker-controlled page. The issue is tracked under [CWE-352] and affects the cyberfoxdigital Christmasify! WordPress plugin.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation allows attackers to alter plugin configuration and inject persistent scripts that execute in the browsers of site visitors and administrators.
Affected Products
- Cyberfoxdigital Christmasify! WordPress plugin versions up to and including 1.5.5
- WordPress sites with the vulnerable plugin installed and activated
- Administrator sessions authenticated to affected WordPress installations
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-08-12 - CVE-2024-7574 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-7574
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a Cross-Site Request Forgery flaw located in the plugin's options handling function. WordPress plugins are expected to validate a nonce token on state-changing requests to confirm the request originated from an authenticated administrator interacting with the plugin UI. Christmasify! omits this check, so the server processes any well-formed request that arrives with a valid administrator session cookie.
Because the affected endpoint updates plugin settings, an attacker can supply arbitrary values that the plugin later renders back into pages. This provides a path from CSRF into stored script injection, which extends the impact beyond a simple configuration change.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing nonce validation in the options function. The plugin does not call check_admin_referer() or wp_verify_nonce() before persisting submitted settings. Without this control, WordPress cannot distinguish a legitimate administrator submission from a forged cross-origin request.
Attack Vector
Exploitation is network-based and requires user interaction. An attacker hosts a page containing an auto-submitting HTML form or image tag that targets the vulnerable plugin endpoint on the victim's WordPress site. When an authenticated administrator visits the attacker-controlled page, the browser sends the request with the administrator's session cookies, and the plugin updates its settings with attacker-supplied values, including script payloads.
No verified public exploit code is available. See the Wordfence Vulnerability Report for additional technical detail.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-7574
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected changes to Christmasify! plugin settings recorded in the WordPress database wp_options table
- Presence of <script> tags or JavaScript event handlers inside stored plugin configuration values
- HTTP POST requests to Christmasify! administrative endpoints with Referer headers pointing to external domains
- Outbound requests from site visitors' browsers to unfamiliar third-party domains after page loads
Detection Strategies
- Audit installed WordPress plugins and flag Christmasify! versions at or below 1.5.5
- Inspect web server access logs for POST requests to the plugin's options endpoint that lack the expected _wpnonce parameter
- Review page source of front-end pages rendered by the plugin for injected scripts or unexpected DOM elements
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable WordPress audit logging to track administrative setting changes and correlate them with authenticated user sessions
- Monitor for anomalous administrator activity originating from unusual IP addresses or immediately following external link clicks
- Alert on modifications to plugin option rows that contain HTML or script content
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-7574
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the Christmasify! plugin to a version above 1.5.5 that includes nonce validation on the options function
- If no patched version is available or the plugin is unmaintained, deactivate and remove the plugin from all affected WordPress sites
- Review current plugin settings for injected script content and restore known-good values
- Rotate WordPress administrator credentials if evidence of exploitation is found
Patch Information
The upstream code change is available in the WordPress plugin repository. Refer to the WordPress Plugin Changeset 3132621 for the fix that introduces nonce validation. Administrators should apply the update through the WordPress plugin management interface.
Workarounds
- Restrict WordPress administrator accounts to dedicated browsers or sessions not used for general web browsing to reduce CSRF exposure
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall rule that blocks POST requests to the plugin's admin endpoints when the Referer header is missing or off-site
- Enforce the SameSite=Strict or SameSite=Lax attribute on WordPress authentication cookies to limit cross-origin request submission
# Configuration example: disable the plugin via WP-CLI until patched
wp plugin deactivate christmasify
wp plugin delete christmasify
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
