CVE-2024-1042 in WP Radio Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/10/2024
The WP Radio – Worldwide Online Radio Stations Directory for WordPress plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capability check on multiple AJAX functions in all versions up to, and including, 3.1.9. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber access and above, to import radio stations, remove countries, and modify the plugin's settings, which can lead to Cross-Site Scripting, tracked separately in CVE-2024-1041.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/29/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-1042 affects the WP Radio plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions up to and including 3.1.9. This security flaw represents a critical authorization bypass issue that undermines the integrity of the plugin's administrative functions. The vulnerability stems from insufficient capability checks within multiple AJAX endpoints, creating a pathway for unauthorized data manipulation by attackers who possess subscriber-level privileges or higher. The affected plugin serves as a directory for online radio stations, making it a potential vector for malicious actors to compromise radio station listings and associated configurations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability lies in the plugin's AJAX handling mechanisms where proper user role validation is absent. Attackers with subscriber access can leverage these unprotected endpoints to execute malicious operations including importing radio stations, removing countries from the directory, and modifying core plugin settings. This missing capability check directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the plugin's access control architecture. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1546 for privilege escalation through application access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data modification to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks. By allowing attackers to manipulate radio station listings and plugin configurations, threat actors can introduce malicious content or disrupt the service's functionality. The vulnerability creates a persistent backdoor for attackers to maintain access while performing their malicious activities. The ability to import radio stations opens possibilities for attackers to inject malicious URLs or redirect users to harmful destinations, while removing countries from the directory can cause service disruption or data corruption. The modification of plugin settings can affect the entire plugin's behavior and potentially compromise other security measures within the WordPress environment.
Organizations utilizing the WP Radio plugin must implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability. The most effective solution involves upgrading to a patched version of the plugin where capability checks have been properly implemented for all AJAX endpoints. Administrators should also review user permissions and consider limiting subscriber access to only necessary functions while monitoring for unauthorized modifications. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning given that it requires minimal privileges to exploit, making it accessible to attackers who may have gained subscriber-level access through other means. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual patterns in radio station imports, country removals, and setting modifications that could indicate exploitation attempts.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of proper input validation and capability checks in WordPress plugins. This flaw demonstrates how seemingly minor security oversights can create significant risks in content management systems. The vulnerability's relationship to CVE-2024-1041, which addresses Cross-Site Scripting, suggests that attackers may combine these vulnerabilities to create more sophisticated attack chains. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security audits of their WordPress plugins to identify similar authorization bypass issues and ensure that all AJAX endpoints properly validate user capabilities before executing sensitive operations. The incident underscores the need for continuous security testing and the importance of maintaining up-to-date plugins to protect against known vulnerabilities.