CVE-2024-1389 in Paid Membership Subscriptions Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/29/2024
The Paid Membership Subscriptions – Effortless Memberships, Recurring Payments & Content Restriction plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capability check on the pms_stripe_connect_handle_authorization_return function in all versions up to, and including, 2.11.1. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to change the Stripe payment keys.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-1389 affects the Paid Membership Subscriptions plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting version 2.11.1 and earlier releases. This plugin facilitates membership management, recurring payments, and content restriction for WordPress websites. The security flaw resides within the pms_stripe_connect_handle_authorization_return function which lacks proper capability validation. This function is responsible for processing Stripe payment authorization responses and handling payment key configurations. The absence of authentication checks means that any unauthenticated user can exploit this vulnerability to manipulate Stripe payment credentials. The flaw represents a critical access control weakness that undermines the security posture of WordPress sites utilizing this plugin.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a missing capability check within the plugin's core functionality. When the pms_stripe_connect_handle_authorization_return function processes incoming Stripe authorization responses, it fails to verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary administrative privileges. This oversight creates an authentication bypass condition where unauthorized actors can submit malicious requests to modify payment configuration parameters. The vulnerability specifically impacts the Stripe payment integration functionality, allowing attackers to potentially replace legitimate payment keys with malicious ones. This modification capability extends beyond simple data alteration to encompass full payment processing control, potentially enabling financial fraud or service disruption. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and access control implementation practices that violate fundamental security principles.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-1389 extends beyond immediate data modification capabilities to encompass potential financial loss and service compromise. Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this vulnerability to alter Stripe payment keys, which could result in unauthorized payment processing or complete payment system compromise. The affected websites may experience unauthorized transactions, revenue loss, and potential customer data exposure. Additionally, the modification of payment credentials can disrupt legitimate business operations and require extensive recovery procedures. The vulnerability affects all versions up to 2.11.1, indicating a prolonged exposure window where numerous WordPress installations remained susceptible. This creates a significant risk for businesses relying on membership-based payment systems and content restriction features provided by the plugin.
Security mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-1389 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions addressing the capability check deficiency. System administrators must ensure all affected installations are updated to the latest plugin releases that include proper authentication controls. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual payment configuration changes or unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures and conduct security assessments of all installed WordPress plugins. Regular security audits of membership and payment integration systems are essential to identify similar access control weaknesses. Additionally, implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts and restricting direct plugin file access can provide additional defense layers against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of capability validation in web applications and underscores the need for robust access control mechanisms in payment processing systems.