CVE-2024-11271 in Webinar Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/08/2025
The WordPress Webinar Plugin – WebinarPress plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to modification of data due to a missing capability check on several functions in all versions up to, and including, 1.33.24. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level access and above, to modify webinars.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-11271 affects the WordPress Webinar Plugin - WebinarPress which is a popular tool for creating and managing webinars within WordPress environments. This plugin has been found to contain a critical security flaw that allows unauthorized data modification by users who possess subscriber-level access or higher privileges. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper capability checks within the plugin's codebase, specifically in functions related to webinar management operations. The flaw exists in all versions up to and including 1.33.24, making a substantial user base potentially vulnerable to this security issue.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the plugin's failure to verify user permissions before executing data modification operations. When authenticated users with subscriber-level access attempt to interact with webinar management functions, the plugin does not validate whether these users possess the necessary administrative privileges required to perform such actions. This missing capability check creates a privilege escalation vector where users who should only have viewing rights can manipulate webinar data, including modifying webinar details, schedules, and associated content. The vulnerability directly relates to CWE-284 which describes improper access control mechanisms, specifically the lack of proper authorization checks in software applications. This weakness allows attackers to perform unauthorized modifications to system resources through legitimate user accounts.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on WordPress for their webinar infrastructure. Attackers with subscriber accounts can potentially disrupt webinar schedules, alter presentation content, modify registration information, or manipulate webinar analytics data. The impact extends beyond simple data corruption as these modifications can affect business operations, customer experience, and potentially lead to reputational damage. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires minimal privileges to exploit, making it accessible to users who are typically granted limited access to WordPress sites. This creates a scenario where malicious actors can leverage seemingly innocuous user accounts to cause substantial disruption. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques where adversaries use legitimate credentials to gain elevated access rights within the system.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate updating of the WebinarPress plugin to the latest available version where the capability checks have been properly implemented. System administrators should also conduct thorough security audits of their WordPress installations to identify any other plugins with similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing proper user role management and limiting subscriber privileges to only necessary functions can reduce the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized modifications to webinar data. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues across the entire WordPress ecosystem. The fix for this vulnerability should include comprehensive capability verification mechanisms that ensure only users with appropriate administrative permissions can modify webinar-related data, thereby aligning with security best practices and industry standards for access control implementation.