CVE-2024-12774 identifies a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the Altra Side Menu WordPress plugin versions up to 2.0. This plugin facilitates the creation and management of side menus within WordPress sites. The vulnerability arises because certain administrative actions, specifically menu deletions, lack proper CSRF protections such as nonce verification or token checks. Consequently, an attacker can craft a malicious webpage or link that, when visited by an authenticated WordPress administrator, triggers unintended menu deletions without their knowledge or consent. The attack vector is remote (network accessible), requires no privileges beyond those of an authenticated admin, and necessitates user interaction (clicking a link or visiting a page). The vulnerability impacts the integrity of the WordPress site's menu configuration but does not affect confidentiality or availability directly. The CVSS 3.1 score of 6.5 reflects these factors: network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required beyond admin, user interaction required, and impact limited to integrity. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the risk remains significant due to the administrative nature of the actions affected. The plugin's widespread use in WordPress sites, especially those managed by European organizations, underscores the importance of addressing this vulnerability promptly.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to the integrity of WordPress sites using the Altra Side Menu plugin. Unauthorized deletion of menus can disrupt website navigation, degrade user experience, and potentially impact business operations relying on web presence. While it does not expose sensitive data or cause denial of service, the administrative disruption could lead to reputational damage or operational delays. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could also leverage the disruption as a stepping stone for further attacks if combined with other vulnerabilities. Organizations with public-facing WordPress sites, especially those with multiple administrators or less stringent access controls, are more vulnerable. The impact is heightened in sectors where website integrity is critical, such as e-commerce, government portals, and media outlets. Given the medium severity, the threat is moderate but should not be underestimated, especially since exploitation requires only that an admin visit a malicious link.

To mitigate CVE-2024-12774, organizations should first update the Altra Side Menu plugin to a version that includes proper CSRF protections once available. Until a patch is released, administrators should implement the following controls: restrict administrative access to trusted networks and users, employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block CSRF attempts, and educate admins about the risks of clicking untrusted links while logged into WordPress. Additionally, enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) for admin accounts can reduce the risk of compromised credentials being exploited in conjunction with CSRF. Monitoring and logging administrative actions can help detect suspicious menu deletions early. Developers maintaining the plugin should add nonce verification or CSRF tokens to all state-changing requests. Finally, consider isolating administrative interfaces from public access via VPN or IP whitelisting to reduce exposure.