CVE-2024-0596 in Awesome Support Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/10/2024
The Awesome Support – WordPress HelpDesk & Support Plugin plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized access of data due to a missing capability check on the editor_html() function in all versions up to, and including, 6.1.7. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level access and above, to view password protected and draft posts. CVE-2024-35741 is likely a duplicate of this issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-0596 affects the Awesome Support WordPress plugin, specifically targeting versions up to and including 6.1.7. This represents a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security model of WordPress installations relying on this support plugin. The issue stems from a fundamental missing capability check within the editor_html() function, which is designed to handle HTML content editing operations. The vulnerability allows authenticated users with subscriber-level privileges or higher to bypass normal access controls and gain unauthorized visibility into sensitive content that should remain protected. This flaw directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of content management systems where the plugin is deployed, creating potential exposure for private information and unpublished material.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes inadequate access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized users to access resources. The missing capability check in the editor_html() function represents a classic authorization bypass flaw where the plugin fails to verify whether the requesting user possesses appropriate permissions to access specific content types. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and exploits the trust model within WordPress, where user roles and capabilities are supposed to enforce access boundaries. Attackers with subscriber-level access can leverage this weakness to view password-protected posts and draft content that would normally be restricted to administrators or editors. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it does not require elevated privileges beyond what is typically granted to registered users, making it accessible to a broad range of authenticated threat actors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks within compromised WordPress environments. An attacker with subscriber access could gather intelligence about unpublished content, internal discussions, or sensitive business information contained within password-protected posts. This information could be used for social engineering attacks, competitive intelligence gathering, or to plan more targeted exploitation of the WordPress installation. The vulnerability also creates potential for data exfiltration and could be combined with other weaknesses to escalate privileges or access additional system resources. The fact that this affects all versions up to 6.1.7 indicates a long-standing issue that has not been properly addressed, leaving many installations vulnerable to exploitation. The potential for this vulnerability to be exploited in conjunction with other security flaws in WordPress installations makes it a significant concern for organizations relying on the Awesome Support plugin for customer support operations.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of the Awesome Support plugin where the capability check has been properly implemented. The recommended remediation strategy involves not only patching the specific vulnerability but also conducting comprehensive security assessments of all WordPress installations to identify similar authorization flaws. System administrators should review user role assignments and ensure that the principle of least privilege is properly enforced within their WordPress environments. Monitoring for unauthorized access attempts and implementing proper logging of content access operations can help detect exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network-level controls to limit access to WordPress administrative interfaces and content management functions. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security audits and vulnerability assessments of third-party plugins, as these components often represent significant attack surfaces within WordPress environments. Organizations should establish processes for rapid response to security advisories and maintain up-to-date security patches across all WordPress components to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.