CVE-2024-12618 in Newsletter2Go Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/09/2025
The Newsletter2Go plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capability check on the 'resetStyles' AJAX action in all versions up to, and including, 4.0.14. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to reset styles.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-12618 affects the Newsletter2Go plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions up to and including 4.0.14. This security flaw represents a critical access control issue that undermines the integrity of the plugin's functionality. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper capability validation within the plugin's AJAX handling mechanism, creating an unauthorized modification vector that could be exploited by malicious actors within the WordPress ecosystem.
The technical flaw manifests through the 'resetStyles' AJAX action which lacks appropriate permission verification before executing style reset operations. This missing capability check creates a scenario where authenticated users with Subscriber-level privileges or higher can manipulate the plugin's styling configurations without proper authorization. The vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor input validation practices within the plugin's security architecture. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in authorization mechanisms where insufficient access control checks allow unauthorized operations to be performed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple style manipulation as it provides attackers with a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the WordPress environment. An authenticated attacker with Subscriber-level access can leverage this vulnerability to reset styles, potentially disrupting the website's appearance, masking malicious activities, or creating confusion among legitimate users. The attack surface is particularly concerning because subscribers typically have minimal privileges within WordPress systems, yet this vulnerability allows them to perform actions that should be restricted to administrators or editors.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers legitimate credentials, as attackers can exploit existing subscriber accounts to gain elevated privileges within the plugin's scope. The vulnerability also relates to T1499.004 which covers network denial of service through manipulation of data, as unauthorized style resets could potentially disrupt website functionality. Organizations running affected versions of the Newsletter2Go plugin face significant risk of data integrity compromise and potential service disruption.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the capability check deficiency. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring of AJAX requests and style-related modifications within WordPress installations. The principle of defense in depth suggests implementing role-based access controls that further restrict what actions subscribers can perform, even within legitimate plugin functionality. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins should include verification of capability checks and access control mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the WordPress ecosystem.