CVE-2024-0681 in Page Restriction Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/13/2024
The Page Restriction WordPress (WP) – Protect WP Pages/Post plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to information disclosure in all versions up to, and including, 1.3.4. This is due to the plugin not properly restricting access to pages via the REST API when a page has been made private. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to view protected pages. The vendor has decided that they will not implement REST API protection on posts and pages and the restrictions will only apply to the front-end of the site. The vendors solution was to add notices throughout the dashboard and recommends installing the WordPress REST API Authentication plugin for REST API coverage.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-0681 affects the Page Restriction WordPress plugin, specifically versions up to and including 1.3.4, creating a critical information disclosure risk within WordPress environments. This flaw represents a significant security gap in access control mechanisms, where the plugin fails to properly enforce restrictions on private content through the WordPress REST API endpoint. The issue stems from the plugin's inadequate implementation of authentication checks when serving protected pages via the REST API, allowing unauthorized users to bypass frontend access controls and directly access restricted content through API calls. This vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles of information classification and access control, where sensitive data should remain protected regardless of the access method used to retrieve it.
The technical implementation flaw manifests in the plugin's failure to validate user authentication status when processing REST API requests for protected pages and posts. When content is marked as private within WordPress, the system should enforce strict access controls across all interfaces including the REST API. However, the Page Restriction plugin's architecture does not properly integrate with WordPress's core authentication mechanisms for API endpoints, resulting in a scenario where unauthenticated requests can retrieve content that should be restricted to authorized users only. This represents a classic access control vulnerability categorized under CWE-284, which deals with improper access control in software systems where insufficient authorization checks allow unauthorized access to protected resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it potentially exposes sensitive content that may include confidential business information, personal data, or proprietary content that should remain restricted to authorized personnel. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability through automated tools or simple API request methods to harvest protected content without requiring valid credentials or authentication. The implications are particularly severe for organizations that rely on WordPress for content management and where private pages contain sensitive data such as employee information, strategic documents, or customer data. This vulnerability undermines the integrity of the WordPress security model by creating a backdoor that bypasses the expected access control mechanisms.
The vendor's response to this vulnerability demonstrates a limited approach to remediation that focuses primarily on frontend access controls while explicitly declining to implement REST API protection for posts and pages. This decision reflects a design philosophy that separates security concerns between frontend and backend interfaces, potentially creating inconsistent security postures within the same plugin ecosystem. The recommended mitigation strategy of adding dashboard notices and suggesting third-party plugins like WordPress REST API Authentication does not address the core architectural flaw in the plugin's REST API implementation. This vendor response aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, where attackers exploit vulnerabilities in web applications to gain unauthorized access to protected resources, though the vendor's approach fails to provide a comprehensive solution that addresses the root cause of the vulnerability.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should consider immediate implementation of alternative access control measures, including the installation of recommended third-party plugins for REST API authentication, while also implementing additional monitoring and detection measures to identify potential exploitation attempts. The security community should view this vulnerability as a cautionary example of how plugin developers must ensure consistent security enforcement across all application interfaces, particularly when dealing with sensitive content protection mechanisms. The vulnerability highlights the importance of comprehensive testing across all access points including REST APIs, and demonstrates that security cannot be effectively implemented through partial solutions that only address specific interfaces while leaving others vulnerable to exploitation.