CVE-2024-13415 in Food Menu Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/31/2025
The Food Menu – Restaurant Menu & Online Ordering for WooCommerce plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized access due to a missing capability check on the response() function in all versions up to, and including, 5.1.4. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to modify the plugin's settings.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/31/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-13415 affects the Food Menu – Restaurant Menu & Online Ordering for WooCommerce plugin, a popular WordPress extension used by restaurant businesses to manage their online menus and ordering systems. This plugin integrates seamlessly with WooCommerce platforms, allowing restaurant operators to display their food offerings and process customer orders directly through their WordPress websites. The vulnerability resides within the plugin's response() function which fails to properly validate user capabilities before executing sensitive operations. This flaw exists in all versions up to and including 5.1.4, representing a significant security gap that could be exploited by malicious actors with relatively low privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a missing capability check within the plugin's core functionality. When an authenticated user accesses certain administrative endpoints through the response() function, the system does not verify whether the user possesses the appropriate permissions to modify plugin settings. This missing authorization check creates a privilege escalation pathway where users with Subscriber-level access or higher can manipulate critical configuration parameters. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control mechanisms, and specifically demonstrates weak authorization controls that allow unauthorized modifications to system settings. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can potentially alter menu configurations, modify ordering parameters, or change payment processing settings that could disrupt business operations or compromise customer data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it creates opportunities for business disruption and potential data compromise. A malicious subscriber-level user could modify pricing information, alter menu availability, or manipulate order processing workflows, directly affecting revenue streams and customer experience. The vulnerability also poses risks to data integrity since attackers could modify plugin configurations that control how customer information is handled or how orders are processed. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability represents a low-effort, high-impact vector that requires minimal privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users have access to the WordPress platform. The vulnerability could be leveraged as part of a broader attack chain, potentially serving as a foothold for further compromise of the WordPress installation or the underlying infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-13415 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the missing capability check. System administrators must ensure that all instances of the Food Menu plugin are updated to the latest secure version, which should include proper authorization controls and capability verification. Additionally, implementing network-level monitoring can help detect unusual administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting user accounts to the minimum necessary permissions, reducing the potential impact of compromised subscriber-level accounts. Organizations should also conduct regular security audits of their WordPress installations, paying particular attention to plugin configurations and user access controls. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and could be classified under T1078 for valid accounts and T1547 for privilege escalation through application access, making it essential for security teams to monitor for these specific attack patterns in their environments.