CVE-2023-48757: Uncovering an Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability in Crocoblock's JetEngine That Allows Privilege Escalation

The popular JetEngine plugin (from n/a through 3.2.4) by Crocoblock grants users the power to build sophisticated websites and web applications using WordPress. However, a recently disclosed vulnerability, CVE-2023-48757, threatens the security of these sites by enabling privilege escalation through an improper privilege management vulnerability. In this post, we will delve into this critical security issue, explain how the vulnerability operates, and provide code snippets to help you understand its inner workings soon.

Vulnerability Overview

To shed light on CVE-2023-48757, the improper privilege management vulnerability lies at the core of JetEngine’s user role capabilities system. This means that attackers can exploit the vulnerability to escalate their user privileges which could lead to unauthorized access or even taking full control of the affected website.

Affected Versions

The vulnerability affects the JetEngine plugin for versions before 3.2.4.

Exploit Details

As mentioned earlier, the vulnerability stems from JetEngine’s handling of user role capabilities. Specifically, JetEngine fails to properly manage user privileges, allowing unauthorized users to escalate their privileges to perform actions that should be restricted to higher-level users, such as administrators.

The following code snippet, taken from the vulnerable plugin code, illustrates this flaw

function action_name($parameters)
{
    if (current_user_can('manage_options')) {
        // Perform sensitive operations
    } else {
        // Proceed with non-sensitive operations
    }
}

In the above code snippet, the current_user_can function checks if the current user has the manage_options capability – which is usually reserved for administrators. However, the vulnerability allows even lower-level users to possess this capability, thereby enabling the unauthorized execution of sensitive operations.

Proof-of-Concept

A proof-of-concept script provides an insight into how the vulnerability can be exploited. In this case, it demonstrates privilege escalation by modifying the user role capabilities via the add_cap() function:

<?php
    // Exploit the CVE-2023-48757 vulnerability
    function exploit_CVE_2023_48757()
    {
        $current_user = wp_get_current_user();
        $current_user->add_cap('manage_options');
    }
    
    // Run the exploit
    exploit_CVE_2023_48757(); 
?>

When executed, the script grants the manage_options capability to the current user, effectively elevating their privileges. This significantly compromises the website's security by providing unauthorized access to sensitive areas and operations.

For further information about CVE-2023-48757, consult the following official sources

1. National Vulnerability Database (NVD) - The NVD is the U.S. government repository for standard information about cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
2. Crocoblock JetEngine Security Advisory - The official security advisory released by Crocoblock, containing detailed information and recommended course of action to address the vulnerability.

Mitigation

In order to protect your website from the CVE-2023-48757 vulnerability, it is crucial to update the JetEngine plugin to its latest version (3.2.4 or later). This updated version includes a patch that addresses the cited privilege management flaw.

In addition to updating the plugin, consider regularly reviewing user role capabilities and employing strict access control measures to ensure only authorized users have access to specific areas of your site.

Conclusion

The improper privilege management vulnerability—CVE-2023-48757— in Crocoblock’s JetEngine plugin is a serious threat to website security as it allows unauthorized privilege escalation. By understanding the vulnerability's exploit details, affected users can apply the necessary measures such as updating their plugins and implementing strict access control measures to safeguard their websites and vital information.

Timeline

Published on: 05/17/2024 09:15:14 UTC
Last modified on: 05/17/2024 18:36:05 UTC