CVE-2024-4010: Addressing Missing Authorization in Email Subscribers by Icegram Express
Understanding CVE-2024-4010
CVE-2024-4010 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in the Email Subscribers by Icegram Express plugin, impacting WordPress and WooCommerce. This vulnerability, found in all versions up to and including 5.7.19, arises from a missing capability check in the handle_ajax_request function. The absence of this check allows authenticated attackers with at least subscriber-level access to execute unauthorized actions. The potential consequences include data breaches, data modification, and even loss of data confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Additionally, this vulnerability could be leveraged to conduct PHP Object Injection and SQL Injection attacks.
Technical Details
This vulnerability, rated with a CVSS score of 8.8, classifies it as highly critical. The vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H indicates that the attack is network-based, requires low complexity, and only needs low-level privileges to exploit, without any user interaction. The resulting impact includes a total compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system.
According to the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE), the primary issue lies in CWE-862: Missing Authorization. This inappropriate authorization control allows malicious activities, facilitated by the flawed handle_ajax_request function.
Mitigation Strategies
Mitigating CVE-2024-4010 requires a multi-faceted approach:
- Update the Plugin: The most straightforward and essential mitigation step is to update the Email Subscribers by Icegram Express plugin to a version higher than 5.7.19, where this vulnerability has been addressed.
- Implement Least Privilege Principle: Ensure that users, especially those with subscriber-level access, are granted minimal privileges, limiting their ability to exploit such vulnerabilities.
- Web Application Firewall (WAF): Use a WAF, such as Fortinet, to detect and block malicious activities that attempt to exploit this and other vulnerabilities. WAFs can offer an additional layer of protection by filtering out harmful traffic.
- Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate weaknesses before attackers can exploit them. Proactive security measures are crucial for maintaining the integrity of WordPress installations.
- Monitoring and Incident Response: Set up monitoring and incident response protocols to detect and respond to any suspicious activities promptly. Effective monitoring can help identify early signs of exploitation attempts.
Resources:
By adhering to these best practices, administrators and security professionals can minimize the risk associated with CVE-2024-4010, ensuring the security and reliability of their WordPress systems.
