CVE-2012-2402 in WordPress
Summary
by MITRE
wp-admin/plugins.php in WordPress before 3.3.2 allows remote authenticated site administrators to bypass intended access restrictions and deactivate network-wide plugins via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2402 represents a critical access control flaw within WordPress core functionality that specifically affects versions prior to 3.3.2. This issue resides within the wp-admin/plugins.php file and exploits a weakness in the authorization mechanisms that govern plugin management operations. The vulnerability allows authenticated site administrators to circumvent intended security restrictions that should prevent them from deactivating plugins that are configured to run across an entire network installation. This represents a significant bypass of the principle of least privilege that is fundamental to secure multi-site WordPress configurations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control checks within the plugin management interface. When site administrators attempt to perform plugin deactivation operations on network-wide plugins, the system fails to properly verify whether the administrator possesses the necessary elevated privileges required for such operations. This flaw typically manifests through unspecified vectors that may involve manipulation of request parameters or session state that allows the authenticated user to bypass the standard permission checks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within the administrative interface where users already possess elevated privileges, yet still allows for privilege escalation within the confines of the network administration model.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized plugin deactivation, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of WordPress network installations. Network-wide plugins are designed to run consistently across all sites within a WordPress multisite network, and their deactivation should require specific administrative permissions or elevated privileges. However, this vulnerability allows any authenticated site administrator to bypass these protections, potentially leading to service disruption, security compromise, or unauthorized modification of network-wide functionality. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise environments where WordPress multisite installations are common and where network-wide plugins may contain critical security or business functionality.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and demonstrates how insufficient authorization checks can lead to privilege escalation within web applications. The flaw also relates to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and the abuse of administrative privileges. Organizations running WordPress installations with network-wide plugin configurations face significant risk from this vulnerability, as it enables malicious or compromised administrators to disrupt services or potentially hide their activities within the network. The vulnerability essentially allows for a form of lateral movement within the WordPress administration interface, where an attacker with site administrator credentials can escalate their privileges to perform operations that should require network administrator level access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2402 require immediate implementation of the official WordPress security patch that addresses the access control bypass. Organizations should ensure all WordPress installations are updated to version 3.3.2 or later, as this release contains the necessary fixes for the vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should implement strict monitoring of plugin management activities within network installations, particularly focusing on deactivation events that occur outside of normal maintenance windows. Security teams should also consider implementing role-based access controls that further restrict plugin management capabilities to only those users who absolutely require such privileges. Regular security audits of WordPress installations, including verification of proper plugin management permissions, should be conducted to identify and remediate similar access control issues that may exist in custom plugins or themes.