CVE-2024-11284 in WP JobHunt Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/14/2025
The WP JobHunt plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to privilege escalation via account takeover in all versions up to, and including, 6.9. This is due to the plugin not properly validating a user's identity prior to updating their password through the account_settings_save_callback() function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to change arbitrary user's passwords, including administrators, and leverage that to gain access to their account.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2025
The WP JobHunt plugin vulnerability CVE-2024-11284 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw that directly undermines the security posture of WordPress installations. This vulnerability exists within all versions up to and including 6.9, making it a widespread concern for organizations relying on this job posting plugin. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the plugin's account management functionality, specifically in the account_settings_save_callback() function that handles password update operations. The vulnerability exposes a fundamental security weakness where the system fails to properly authenticate user identities before permitting password modifications, creating an attack vector that can be exploited by unauthenticated threat actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate the password reset process without proper authentication credentials. When a user attempts to update their account settings through the plugin's interface, the account_settings_save_callback() function does not adequately verify whether the requesting entity has legitimate authorization to modify the target user's password. This validation gap creates a scenario where any attacker can craft malicious requests that bypass normal authentication checks, enabling them to change passwords for any user account within the system. The implications extend beyond simple password changes, as administrators are particularly at risk since their compromised credentials provide elevated privileges and access to sensitive system functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to administrative controls. Attackers exploiting this flaw can systematically target administrator accounts, gaining access to critical system configurations, user data, and the ability to modify or delete content. The vulnerability's nature means that attackers do not require any prior credentials or authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited remotely and systematically. Organizations using affected versions of WP JobHunt face significant risk of data breaches, unauthorized content manipulation, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability can also enable persistent access through compromised administrator accounts, allowing attackers to maintain control over affected systems for extended periods.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-11284 should prioritize immediate remediation through plugin version updates to address the identified validation flaws. Organizations must urgently upgrade to the latest version of WP JobHunt that contains proper authentication checks and input validation mechanisms. Additionally, security administrators should implement network-level protections including firewall rules that restrict access to sensitive administrative endpoints and monitor for unusual password change patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and represents a significant concern under ATT&CK framework category T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of user accounts, implement multi-factor authentication for administrative roles, and establish monitoring protocols to detect unauthorized password modifications. Regular security assessments of third-party plugins and their update processes are essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced into WordPress environments.