CVE-2022-45840 in Auto Affiliate Links Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/13/2024
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Lucian Apostol Auto Affiliate Links allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects Auto Affiliate Links: from n/a through 6.2.1.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2024
The CVE-2022-45840 vulnerability represents a critical missing authorization flaw within the Lucian Apostol Auto Affiliate Links WordPress plugin, specifically impacting versions ranging from an unspecified lower bound through 6.2.1.5. This vulnerability resides in the plugin's access control mechanisms and allows unauthorized users to exploit incorrectly configured security levels that should otherwise restrict access to administrative functions. The flaw fundamentally undermines the plugin's ability to properly verify user permissions and authenticate requests, creating a pathway for privilege escalation attacks.
This vulnerability operates as a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and proper access control implementation, aligning with CWE-285 which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems. The missing authorization check means that malicious actors can potentially access restricted administrative interfaces, modify plugin configurations, or manipulate affiliate link settings without proper authentication. The issue manifests when the plugin fails to validate whether the requesting user possesses sufficient privileges to perform specific actions, effectively bypassing intended security boundaries. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain elevated access to the WordPress administration panel through the compromised plugin interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to manipulate affiliate marketing configurations that could result in financial loss or data compromise. The affected plugin's functionality includes managing affiliate links, tracking commissions, and configuring promotional content, all of which become accessible to unauthorized users. This vulnerability creates opportunities for attackers to modify link parameters, redirect traffic to malicious destinations, or alter commission structures to benefit themselves. The risk is particularly elevated in environments where the plugin is used for commercial affiliate marketing operations, as the compromise could directly impact revenue streams and business integrity.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1078 for valid accounts usage and T1566 for credential harvesting through web applications. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that WordPress plugins often require minimal user interaction for exploitation, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation, monitoring for unusual administrative access patterns, and conducting regular security assessments of third-party plugins. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation within WordPress plugins, as the flaw exists in the core authorization logic rather than in peripheral components. Mitigation strategies should include immediate plugin updates to patched versions, implementation of web application firewalls, and comprehensive access control reviews to ensure that all administrative interfaces properly validate user permissions and roles.