CVE-2024-1091 in ImageRecycle PDF & Image Compression Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/29/2024
The ImageRecycle pdf & image compression plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capability check on the reinitialize function in all versions up to, and including, 3.1.13. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level access and above, to remove all plugin data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2024
The ImageRecycle pdf & image compression plugin for WordPress presents a critical security vulnerability through its reinitialize function that lacks proper capability verification. This flaw exists in all versions up to and including 3.1.13, creating an unauthorized data modification vector that significantly undermines the plugin's security posture. The vulnerability specifically targets the absence of capability checks within the plugin's administrative functions, allowing malicious actors with subscriber-level privileges or higher to exploit this weakness. The reinitialize function serves as a critical administrative endpoint that should only be accessible to users with appropriate permissions, yet it fails to validate user capabilities before executing sensitive operations.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-284 access control weakness category, specifically addressing improper access control mechanisms within WordPress plugin architecture. The flaw enables authenticated attackers to perform unauthorized data modification operations, directly violating the principle of least privilege that governs secure system design. The impact extends beyond simple data corruption as it allows complete removal of plugin data, potentially disrupting the entire image and PDF compression functionality. Attackers with subscriber-level access can leverage this vulnerability to cause service disruption, data loss, and potentially create conditions for further exploitation within the WordPress environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for WordPress installations utilizing the affected plugin, as it creates a persistent security risk for all users with subscriber-level permissions or higher. The compromised system state allows attackers to remove all plugin data, which may include configuration settings, compression presets, and potentially user-generated content related to image and PDF processing. This vulnerability particularly affects sites where multiple users have varying permission levels, as it creates an escalation path for less privileged users to gain unauthorized access to plugin administrative functions. The attack surface expands significantly when considering that WordPress installations often contain sensitive data and business-critical operations within their plugin ecosystem.
Security professionals should immediately implement mitigation strategies including restricting user capabilities and ensuring proper permission validation throughout the WordPress plugin architecture. The recommended approach involves updating to the latest plugin version where capability checks have been implemented, or applying custom code patches that enforce proper access controls on the reinitialize function. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security audits of their WordPress installations to identify similar vulnerabilities within other plugins and themes. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the T1078 legitimate credentials and T1485 data destruction sub-techniques. System administrators must also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect unauthorized access attempts to plugin administrative functions, as this vulnerability could serve as a foothold for more extensive attacks within the WordPress environment.