CVE-2024-11641 in VikBooking Hotel Booking Engine & PMS Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/26/2025
The VikBooking Hotel Booking Engine & PMS plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in all versions up to, and including, 1.7.2. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the 'save' function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to change plugin access privileges via a forged request granted they can trick a site administrator into performing an action such as clicking on a link. Successful exploitation allows attackers with subscriber-level privileges and above to upload arbitrary files on the affected site's server which may make remote code execution possible.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2025
The CVE-2024-11641 vulnerability affects the VikBooking Hotel Booking Engine & PMS plugin for WordPress, representing a critical cross-site request forgery flaw that has been present in all versions up to and including 1.7.2. This vulnerability stems from inadequate security controls within the plugin's administrative functions, specifically targeting the 'save' function where nonce validation is either missing or improperly implemented. The weakness creates a pathway for attackers to manipulate the plugin's access control mechanisms without proper authentication, exploiting the fundamental principle that legitimate administrative actions can be forged by malicious actors through crafted requests.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to leverage the absence of proper nonce validation to perform unauthorized modifications to the plugin's configuration and access privileges. This flaw operates under the CWE-352 category of Cross-Site Request Forgery, where the plugin fails to implement adequate protection mechanisms against unauthorized requests. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it requires minimal user interaction from the administrator, who only needs to be tricked into clicking on a malicious link that triggers the forged request. The attack vector typically involves social engineering techniques where administrators are lured into visiting compromised websites or clicking on malicious links in emails or messages.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability extend beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with subscriber-level privileges and above the ability to upload arbitrary files to the affected WordPress installation's server. This arbitrary file upload capability represents a significant escalation in threat potential, as it can be leveraged to execute malicious code remotely on the target system. The vulnerability's exploitation chain typically begins with the forged request that modifies plugin settings, followed by the ability to upload web shells or other malicious payloads that can be executed within the web server context, potentially leading to full system compromise.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1078 Valid Accounts for initial access, T1566 Phishing for credential access when social engineering is employed, and T1505 Server Software Component for exploitation of the vulnerable plugin. The lack of proper nonce validation creates an environment where attackers can manipulate the plugin's administrative interface without proper authorization, making it particularly dangerous for WordPress installations that rely heavily on third-party plugins for business operations. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest plugin version, implementing additional security measures such as web application firewalls, and conducting thorough security audits of all installed plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the critical importance of proper input validation and authentication mechanisms in WordPress plugin development. The missing nonce validation represents a fundamental security oversight that violates core web application security principles, particularly those related to preventing unauthorized administrative actions. Organizations should also consider implementing additional layers of security such as role-based access controls, regular security scanning, and monitoring for suspicious administrative activities. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws can create significant security risks, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing and code review processes in plugin development. Given the potential for remote code execution, immediate remediation is essential to prevent exploitation by threat actors who may be actively targeting vulnerable installations.