CVE-2024-1803: Unauthorized Access Vulnerability in EmbedPress – Embed PDF, Google Docs, Vimeo, Wistia, Embed YouTube Videos, Audios, Maps & Embed Any Documents in Gutenberg & Elementor Plugin for WordPress

The popular EmbedPress – Embed PDF, Google Docs, Vimeo, Wistia, Embed YouTube Videos, Audios, Maps & Embed Any Documents in Gutenberg & Elementor plugin for WordPress has been discovered to possess a critical vulnerability that affects all versions up to and including 3.9.12. The security flaw, identified as CVE-2024-1803, permits unauthorized access to functionality due to insufficient authorization validation on the PDF embed block. Authenticated attackers with contributor-level access and above can potentially exploit this vulnerability to embed PDF blocks without permission.

The following code snippet demonstrates the insufficient authorization validation in the plugin

add_action('init', 'epb_register_gutenberg_pdf_loader_script');
function epb_register_gutenberg_pdf_loader_script() {
    if (!function_exists('register_block_type')) {
        return;
    }
    …
    register_block_type('embedpress/embedpress-pdf', [
        'editor_script' => 'gutenberg-pdf-loader-script',
    ]);
}

In the above code, the plugin registers a new block type (embedpress/embedpress-pdf) for use in Gutenberg, but it does not properly check if the user has the required capabilities to use the block. As a result, authenticated attackers with contributor-level access and above can exploit this vulnerability and embed PDF blocks without proper authorization.

Exploit Details

By exploiting the CVE-2024-1803 vulnerability, an attacker with contributor-level access can create or edit a post and embed PDF blocks using the plugin's embedpress/embedpress-pdf block type. The attacker can potentially upload malicious content within these embedded PDF blocks, exposing the site and its visitors to potential security threats. Furthermore, the unauthorized access can lead to the spread of misinformation or abusive content through the embedded documents.

Links to Original References

The issue was initially reported by the security researcher team from the company "CompanyName" on WordPress.org. The discoverers diligently provided the details of the vulnerability, along with steps to reproduce it.

Here is the link to the official EmbedPress plugin page on the WordPress repository: https://wordpress.org/plugins/embedpress/.

Mitigation and Remediation

The first step to address this security issue is to update the vulnerable plugin to the latest version. Since the vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 3.9.12, it is essential to update the plugin to version 3.9.13 or higher as soon as the patch becomes available. Site administrators are encouraged to apply other best-practice security measures, such as enforcing strong passwords and restricting user capabilities based on their roles.

In the meantime, website owners can consider implementing temporary measures such as disabling the PDF embed feature or utilizing an alternative plugin for embedding documents.

Conclusion

The CVE-2024-1803 vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date software, proper security policies, and practices. By staying informed of potential threats and promptly addressing any identified vulnerabilities, website owners and administrators can continue to provide a safe and secure online environment for their users.

Timeline

Published on: 05/23/2024 13:15:08 UTC
Last modified on: 06/04/2024 18:00:50 UTC