CVE-2024-32081: Missing Authorization Vulnerability in Websupporter Filter Custom Fields & Taxonomies Light

Security researchers have discovered a critical Missing Authorization vulnerability (CVE-2024-32081) in the Websupporter Filter Custom Fields & Taxonomies Light plugin for WordPress. This issue affects Filter Custom Fields & Taxonomies Light versions ranging from n/a through 1.05. Exploiting this vulnerability allows attackers to access and modify sensitive information without proper authorization, leading to a potential data breach. In this long-read, we will dive deep into the details of this exploit and share the code snippet involved.

Affected Versions

- Filter Custom Fields & Taxonomies Light: from n/a through 1.05

[Vulnerability Report - CVE-2024-32081](#)

- Filter Custom Fields & Taxonomies Light - Plugin Page

Exploit Details

The Missing Authorization vulnerability occurs due to improper handling of user roles and permissions by the Websupporter Filter Custom Fields & Taxonomies Light plugin. As a result, unauthorized users can access and modify custom field filters, which could potentially lead to sensitive data exposure or unauthorized changes to the website's content and functionality.

Code Snippet

The following code snippet demonstrates how the vulnerability exists in the Websupporter Filter Custom Fields & Taxonomies Light plugin:

function process_ajax_request() {
    if ( ! wp_verify_nonce( $_POST['security'], 'my_action' ) ) {
        wp_send_json_error( array( 'message' => 'Access Denied' ) );
    }

    // Missing Authorization Check

    // Vulnerable Code
    $filter_data = $_POST['filter_data'];
    update_option( 'my_plugin_data', $filter_data );

    wp_send_json_success( array( 'message' => 'Data Saved Successfully' ) );
}
add_action( 'wp_ajax_process_data', 'process_ajax_request' );

In the code snippet above, the plugin processes AJAX requests without properly checking the user's permissions. This allows unauthorized users to send custom field data and updates through AJAX requests, bypassing the intended security measures.

Mitigation

To mitigate this vulnerability, the plugin developers need to add an authorization check before processing the AJAX request. The code snippet below demonstrates how to add a proper authorization check using the current_user_can function:

function process_ajax_request() {
    if ( ! wp_verify_nonce( $_POST['security'], 'my_action' ) ) {
        wp_send_json_error( array( 'message' => 'Access Denied' ) );
    }

    // Added Authorization Check
    if ( ! current_user_can( 'manage_options' ) ) {
        wp_send_json_error( array( 'message' => 'Insufficient Permissions' ) );
    }

    // Fixed Code
    $filter_data = $_POST['filter_data'];
    update_option( 'my_plugin_data', $filter_data );

    wp_send_json_success( array( 'message' => 'Data Saved Successfully' ) );
}
add_action( 'wp_ajax_process_data', 'process_ajax_request' );

With this authorization check in place, only users with the manage_options capability will be able to update the custom field data, effectively mitigating the Missing Authorization vulnerability.

Conclusion

CVE-2024-32081 is a critical Missing Authorization vulnerability that impacts the Websupporter Filter Custom Fields & Taxonomies Light plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability can be exploited to access and modify sensitive information without proper authorization, potentially leading to data breaches or unauthorized modifications of the website's content and functionality. Developers can mitigate this vulnerability by adding appropriate authorization checks before processing user requests. We recommend updating to the latest version of the plugin and applying the proper security measures to ensure the protection of your WordPress website.

Timeline

Published on: 06/09/2024 19:15:51 UTC
Last modified on: 06/12/2024 13:32:59 UTC