CVE-2021-24819 in Post Content Shortcode Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/13/2021
The Page/Post Content Shortcode WordPress plugin through 1.0 does not have proper authorisation in place, allowing users with a role as low as contributor to access draft/private/password protected/trashed posts/pages they should not be allowed to, including posts created by other users such as admins and editors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-24819 affects the Page/Post Content Shortcode WordPress plugin version 1.0 and earlier, representing a critical authorization flaw that undermines the fundamental security model of WordPress content management systems. This issue stems from inadequate access control mechanisms within the plugin's implementation, creating a pathway for unauthorized users to bypass standard WordPress permissions and gain access to sensitive content that they should not be permitted to view. The flaw specifically targets users with the contributor role, which is typically considered a low-privilege level in WordPress architecture where users can create and edit their own posts but should not have access to draft content, private posts, password-protected materials, or posts belonging to other users.
The technical nature of this vulnerability resides in the plugin's failure to properly validate user permissions when processing shortcode requests. When a contributor user attempts to access content through the plugin's shortcode functionality, the system does not adequately verify whether the requesting user has legitimate authorization to view the specific post or page content. This authorization bypass allows malicious or curious contributors to access draft posts, private content, password-protected materials, and even posts created by administrators and editors. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through the plugin's shortcode processing mechanisms, which typically allow content embedding and retrieval. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in authorization (CWE-285) where insufficient access control validation permits unauthorized information disclosure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a significant risk for content manipulation and potential data breaches within WordPress environments. Contributors who exploit this vulnerability can access private communications, unpublished content, and sensitive information that should remain restricted to higher-privilege users such as administrators and editors. This access can lead to content theft, unauthorized modification of draft materials, and exposure of confidential information that may include business strategies, personal data, or internal communications. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in multi-user WordPress environments where content creators, editors, and administrators collaborate, as it allows lower-privilege users to access content they should never be able to view. From an attacker's perspective, this represents a privilege escalation vector that can be leveraged to gather intelligence about content structure and potentially identify other vulnerabilities within the WordPress ecosystem.
Organizations and WordPress administrators should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including updating to the latest version of the Page/Post Content Shortcode plugin where the authorization flaw has been patched. If an update is not immediately possible, administrators should consider restricting contributor capabilities through custom user role modifications, ensuring that contributor accounts cannot access the plugin's shortcode functionality. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques where adversaries leverage insufficient access control to gain unauthorized access to resources. Security monitoring should include detection of unauthorized access patterns to draft and private content, particularly when such access occurs through plugin interfaces. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security audits of installed plugins to identify similar authorization flaws and ensure that all WordPress components maintain proper access control mechanisms. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in WordPress plugins, as even seemingly simple functionality can create significant security risks when authorization checks are not properly enforced.