CSRF to Two-Factor Authentication Bypass in Google Authenticator WordPress Plugin

Executive Summary

This is a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the Google Authenticator WordPress plugin versions before 0.56. It occurs because the plugin does not verify a CSRF nonce when saving two-factor authentication (2FA) settings. Attackers can exploit this to trick a logged-in user into changing their own 2FA secret to a value controlled by the attacker.

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Detection Guidance

Check if the Google Authenticator WordPress plugin version is below 0.56. Inspect network traffic for unauthorized POST requests to the plugin's 2FA settings endpoint. Look for suspicious changes in user accounts where 2FA is enabled without user action.

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Impact Analysis

If exploited, an attacker can enable two-factor authentication on your account and lock you out. This means you would lose access to your WordPress account, potentially losing control of your website or data.

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Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could potentially impact compliance with GDPR and HIPAA by enabling unauthorized access to user accounts through CSRF attacks. If an attacker gains control of a user's 2FA settings, they may bypass authentication controls, leading to unauthorized data access or modification. This violates principles of secure authentication and data protection required by these regulations.

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Mitigation Strategies

Update the Google Authenticator plugin to version 0.56 or later immediately. Disable 2FA temporarily if compromised until the update is applied. Review user accounts for unauthorized 2FA enablement and revoke access if detected.

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