CVE-2021-24207 in WP Page Builder Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/06/2021
By default, the WP Page Builder WordPress plugin before 1.2.4 allows subscriber-level users to edit and make changes to any and all posts pages - user roles must be specifically blocked from editing posts and pages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-24207 affects the WP Page Builder WordPress plugin version 1.2.3 and earlier, representing a critical access control flaw that undermines the security model of WordPress installations. This issue stems from improper privilege validation within the plugin's codebase, where subscriber-level users are granted unauthorized administrative capabilities that should be restricted to higher-privilege roles such as administrators or editors. The flaw exists in the plugin's default configuration, meaning that without explicit security hardening measures, any user account with subscriber permissions can manipulate content across the entire website, creating a significant vector for unauthorized modifications and potential data compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the plugin's insufficient role-based access control mechanisms. When the WP Page Builder plugin is installed and activated, it fails to properly verify user permissions before allowing content modification operations. This misconfiguration allows users with minimal privileges to access administrative interfaces and modify posts, pages, and other content elements that they should not have access to. The vulnerability specifically impacts the plugin's content editing functionality, where the authorization checks are bypassed for subscriber accounts, effectively granting them the same capabilities as users with higher privileges. This flaw aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues, which encompasses improper access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized users to access protected resources.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-24207 extends beyond simple content modification, creating potential attack vectors for malicious actors who might exploit this weakness to inject malicious code, deface websites, or manipulate content for phishing purposes. Since subscribers can modify any content, an attacker who gains access to a low-privilege account could potentially compromise the entire website's integrity by altering pages, injecting malware, or redirecting users to malicious sites. The vulnerability also poses risks to data confidentiality and availability, as unauthorized modifications could lead to information disclosure or service disruption. This weakness significantly impacts the principle of least privilege, which is a fundamental security concept that should prevent users from accessing resources beyond their required permissions, as defined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and referenced in various ATT&CK tactics including T1078 Valid Accounts and T1566 Phishing.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately update to WP Page Builder version 1.2.4 or later, which implements proper access controls and role validation. Additionally, administrators should conduct thorough security audits to identify any unauthorized modifications that may have occurred while the vulnerability was active. The mitigation strategy should include implementing explicit role restrictions within the WordPress configuration, ensuring that user capabilities are properly defined and that default plugin settings are reviewed for security implications. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual content modification patterns, and regular security assessments should be performed to identify similar access control flaws in other plugins or themes that might be present in the WordPress environment. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and additional monitoring solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability.