CVE-2024-42604 identifies a critical Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Pligg CMS version 2.0.2, specifically targeting the administrative group management functionality. The vulnerability resides in the /admin/admin_group.php script, where an attacker can craft a malicious request to delete user groups by exploiting the 'mode=delete&group_id=3' parameters. Since the CMS does not implement sufficient anti-CSRF protections (such as tokens or same-site cookie enforcement) on this endpoint, an attacker can coerce an authenticated administrator into unknowingly submitting a crafted HTTP request by visiting a malicious webpage or clicking a deceptive link. This results in unauthorized deletion of groups, which can disrupt user permissions and administrative controls. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network without requiring prior authentication but does require the victim to be logged in and to interact with the attack vector (user interaction). The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) indicates network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required, unchanged scope, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No patches or official fixes have been released at the time of publication, and no active exploitation has been reported. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-352, which covers CSRF issues. Given the nature of Pligg CMS as a content management system often used for social publishing and community sites, this vulnerability can severely impact site administration and user trust.

The exploitation of CVE-2024-42604 can have significant consequences for organizations using Pligg CMS 2.0.2. Unauthorized deletion of administrative groups can lead to loss of critical user roles and permissions, potentially locking out legitimate administrators or disrupting site governance. This compromises the integrity and availability of the CMS, as administrative controls are essential for managing content and user access. Confidentiality is also at risk if attackers manipulate group memberships to escalate privileges or remove security controls. The attack requires user interaction but no authentication, making it feasible to target administrators through phishing or malicious websites. Organizations relying on Pligg CMS for community engagement or content publishing may face operational disruptions, reputational damage, and increased risk of further compromise if attackers leverage this vulnerability to pivot within the environment. The absence of known exploits in the wild offers a window for proactive mitigation, but the high CVSS score underscores the urgency of addressing this issue.

To mitigate CVE-2024-42604 effectively, organizations should immediately implement the following measures: 1) Restrict administrative access to trusted networks and IP addresses to reduce exposure. 2) Educate administrators about the risks of CSRF and the importance of avoiding clicking on suspicious links or visiting untrusted websites while logged into the CMS. 3) Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block suspicious requests targeting /admin/admin_group.php with delete parameters. 4) If possible, apply custom patches or temporary code modifications to enforce anti-CSRF tokens on the vulnerable endpoint until an official patch is released. 5) Monitor administrative logs for unusual group deletion activities to detect potential exploitation attempts. 6) Regularly back up CMS data and configurations to enable recovery from unauthorized changes. 7) Follow updates from Pligg CMS developers and apply official security patches as soon as they become available. 8) Consider isolating the CMS environment or using multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts to add additional security layers.