A popular WordPress plugin leaked access tokens capable of hijacking Twitter accounts
A popular WordPress plugin, installed on thousands of websites to help users share content on social media sites, left linked Twitter accounts exposed to compromise.
The plugin, Social Network Tabs, was storing so-called account access tokens in the source code of the WordPress website. Anyone who viewed the source code could see the linked Twitter handle and the access tokens. These access tokens keep you logged in to the website on your phone and your computer without having to re-type your password every time or entering your two-factor authentication code.
But if stolen, most sites can't differentiate between a token used by the account owner, or a hacker who stole the token.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Thexalon on Thursday January 17 2019, @06:18PM
Automated cross-account authentication from one Internet-connected application to another is fraught with danger, and should not be used for anything important.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.