CVE-2017-1002008 in membership-simplified-for-oap-members-only
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in wordpress plugin membership-simplified-for-oap-members-only v1.58, The file download code located membership-simplified-for-oap-members-only/download.php does not check whether a user is logged in and has download privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1002008 resides within the membership-simplified-for-oap-members-only wordpress plugin version 1.58, specifically targeting the file download functionality implemented in the download.php component. This represents a critical access control flaw that fundamentally undermines the security model of the plugin's membership system. The vulnerability stems from inadequate authentication and authorization checks within the file download mechanism, creating a direct pathway for unauthorized access to protected content.
The technical flaw manifests as a missing user verification process in the download.php script, which fails to implement proper session validation or privilege checking before serving downloadable files. This omission allows any unauthenticated user to bypass the intended membership restrictions and directly access files that should only be available to registered members. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and constitutes a classic authorization bypass issue, aligning with CWE-285 which addresses improper authorization within software systems. The flaw essentially removes the security boundary that should exist between public and private content, enabling arbitrary file access through predictable endpoint paths.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it can lead to complete compromise of member-only content repositories. Attackers can exploit this weakness to download premium content, restricted documents, or proprietary materials that are protected by the membership system. This vulnerability directly enables data exfiltration and intellectual property theft, potentially affecting both the plugin developers and their paying members who expect their content to remain private. The security implications are particularly severe in environments where the plugin manages sensitive or copyrighted material, as it provides attackers with a straightforward method to bypass all access controls implemented by the membership system.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1566 which covers credential harvesting. The flaw enables adversaries to escalate privileges without requiring additional authentication credentials, as the system fails to verify user identity before granting access to protected resources. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling the vulnerable plugin functionality, implementing proper access controls, and conducting comprehensive security audits of all membership and file access systems. The recommended remediation involves adding robust authentication checks to the download.php script, ensuring that user sessions are validated and that appropriate authorization levels are verified before file delivery occurs, thereby restoring the intended security boundaries of the membership system.