CVE-2021-24906 in Protect WP Admin Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/24/2022
The Protect WP Admin WordPress plugin before 3.6.2 does not check for authorisation in the lib/pwa-deactivate.php file, which could allow unauthenticated users to disable the plugin (and therefore the protection offered) via a crafted request
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-24906 affects the Protect WP Admin WordPress plugin version 3.6.1 and earlier, representing a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security posture of WordPress installations. This issue stems from insufficient access control mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, specifically in the lib/pwa-deactivate.php file which serves as a critical component for plugin deactivation functionality. The flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to exploit a direct method call that should only be accessible to authorized administrators, creating a significant security risk for WordPress sites relying on this protection mechanism.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a lack of proper authentication checks within the plugin's deactivation endpoint. When an attacker crafts a specific HTTP request to the lib/pwa-deactivate.php file, the system fails to verify whether the requester possesses the necessary administrative privileges. This absence of authorization validation creates an entry point where any user, regardless of their authentication status, can execute the deactivation function. The vulnerability directly relates to CWE-863, which describes "Incorrect Authorization" where the system fails to properly verify that an actor is authorized to perform a requested action. The flaw operates at the application level, exploiting a common pattern where security checks are bypassed in API endpoints or administrative functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally compromises the security infrastructure that the plugin is designed to provide. When an unauthenticated user can successfully disable the plugin, they effectively remove all protection mechanisms that the Protect WP Admin plugin offers, leaving the WordPress installation vulnerable to various attacks including brute force attempts, unauthorized access, and other malicious activities that the plugin was specifically created to prevent. This creates a cascading security risk where the very security tool meant to protect the system becomes a vector for its own destruction, potentially exposing sensitive data and system resources to unauthorized access. The vulnerability affects all WordPress installations using the affected plugin version, making it particularly dangerous in environments with multiple users or public-facing websites.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-24906 require immediate action to upgrade to version 3.6.2 or later of the Protect WP Admin plugin, which contains the necessary authorization checks to prevent unauthorized deactivation. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring and logging of plugin deactivation events to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers "Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts," as unauthorized access to administrative functions represents a form of account compromise that can be detected through proper monitoring. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to block suspicious requests to plugin administration endpoints and conduct regular security audits of installed WordPress plugins to identify similar authorization flaws. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in web applications, particularly in administrative interfaces where the consequences of unauthorized access can be severe.