CVE-2024-10002 in Rover IDX Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/22/2024
The Rover IDX plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Authentication Bypass in versions up to, and including, 3.0.0.2905. This is due to insufficient validation and capability check on the 'rover_idx_refresh_social_callback' function. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level permissions and above, to log in to administrator. The vulnerability is partially patched in version 3.0.0.2905 and fully patched in version 3.0.0.2906.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-10002 affects the Rover IDX plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions up to and including 3.0.0.2905. This authentication bypass flaw represents a critical security weakness that undermines the plugin's access control mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation and capability checks within the 'rover_idx_refresh_social_callback' function, which is designed to handle social media refresh callbacks. The flaw allows authenticated attackers who possess subscriber-level permissions or higher to escalate their privileges and gain administrator access to the WordPress installation. This represents a significant escalation of privileges vulnerability that directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of the affected system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the insufficient input validation and privilege verification mechanisms within the plugin's callback handler. The 'rover_idx_refresh_social_callback' function fails to properly verify user capabilities before executing administrative operations, creating a pathway for privilege escalation. Attackers can exploit this by crafting specific requests that bypass the normal authentication flow, effectively allowing them to assume administrator roles without proper authorization. This flaw operates at the application layer and demonstrates poor security implementation practices that violate fundamental principles of least privilege and proper access control validation. The vulnerability can be categorized under CWE-285 which addresses improper authorization issues in software implementations, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through legitimate credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete system compromise potential. An attacker with subscriber-level access can leverage this vulnerability to gain full administrative control over the WordPress site, potentially leading to data theft, content manipulation, unauthorized user account creation, and the installation of malicious plugins or themes. The partial patch in version 3.0.0.2905 suggests that the initial fix was incomplete or insufficient, requiring a complete remediation in version 3.0.0.2906. This progression indicates that the vulnerability was not properly addressed in the first patch, creating a window of exposure for systems running the partially patched version. The affected WordPress environment becomes vulnerable to various attack vectors including but not limited to data exfiltration, defacement, and the establishment of persistent backdoors through administrative access.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the upgrade to version 3.0.0.2906 of the Rover IDX plugin. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of all WordPress installations to identify potentially compromised systems and implement monitoring for suspicious authentication activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of thorough security testing and validation of access control mechanisms, particularly in plugins that handle sensitive callback functions. Additionally, implementing network-level monitoring and intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts of this type of authentication bypass vulnerability. The incident highlights the necessity of maintaining current security patches and conducting regular security assessments of third-party plugins to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in production environments.