Keeping your WordPress website secure is always a top priority, especially when using plugins that handle user interactions. Recently, a security flaw was found in the “Online Booking & Scheduling Calendar for WordPress by vcita” plugin, identified as CVE-2024-54356. This vulnerability is categorized as a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) and has a Medium severity rating.
Cross-Site Request Forgery, or CSRF, is a type of attack where a malicious website, email, blog, instant message, or program tricks a web browser into performing an unwanted action on a trusted site where the user is currently authenticated. Imagine you’re logged into your WordPress admin panel. A hacker could send you a seemingly harmless link. If you click it, your browser, trusting that you’re already logged into your site, might unknowingly execute a command that the hacker intended, all without your direct consent.
In the case of the vCita Online Booking & Scheduling Calendar plugin, this CSRF vulnerability could allow an attacker to trick a logged-in administrator or another privileged user into performing actions they didn’t intend. These actions might involve changing plugin settings, creating new appointments, or altering existing data, potentially disrupting your booking system or compromising data integrity.
CVE Details
- Product Name: Online Booking & Scheduling Calendar for WordPress by vcita
- CVE ID: CVE-2024-54356
- Published Date: December 16, 2024
- Last Modified Date: February 20, 2026
- Severity: Medium
- Status: Analyzed
Affected Products
The Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerability impacts versions of the “Online Booking & Scheduling Calendar for WordPress by vcita” plugin up to and including version 4.5. If you are running any version of this plugin equal to or older than 4.5, your website may be at risk.
Current Status
The vulnerability, CVE-2024-54356, is currently listed as “Analyzed.” This means that the details of the security flaw have been thoroughly investigated and confirmed by security researchers. While the threat is understood, it’s crucial for users to take action to protect their sites.
Severity Level
This vulnerability carries a “Medium” severity rating with a CVSS score of 5.4. This indicates that while the vulnerability could be exploited, it typically requires some form of user interaction (like clicking a malicious link). The good news is that security researchers at Patchstack have assessed this as a “Low priority” threat, noting that it has no impactful threat and specifically requires user interaction for successful exploitation. However, even with a lower priority assessment, it’s always best practice to address such issues promptly to maintain a robust security posture for your website.
Possible Solutions
The most effective way to protect your WordPress website from this Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerability is to update your “Online Booking & Scheduling Calendar for WordPress by vcita” plugin. A fix has been released, and users should update to version 4.5.2 or later immediately. Updating your plugins regularly is a fundamental step in WordPress security, ensuring you benefit from the latest patches and improvements.
For more general guidance on protecting your website from similar threats, consider learning about Understanding Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) and reviewing Securing Your WordPress Website: Essential Plugin Practices.
References
https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/meeting-scheduler-by-vcita/vulnerability/wordpress-online-booking-scheduling-calendar-for-wordpress-by-vcita-plugin-4-5-cross-site-request-forgery-csrf-vulnerability?_s_id=cve
