CVE-2024-1418 in CGC Maintenance Mode Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/04/2024
The CGC Maintenance Mode plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Sensitive Information Exposure in all versions up to, and including, 1.2 via the REST API. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to view protected posts via REST API even when maintenance mode is enabled.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/14/2026
The CVE-2024-1418 vulnerability affects the CGC Maintenance Mode plugin for WordPress, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the intended protection mechanisms of maintenance mode functionality. This vulnerability exists within the plugin's REST API implementation and impacts all versions up to and including 12. The flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to bypass the maintenance mode restrictions and access protected content through the WordPress REST API endpoint, effectively nullifying the security measures designed to prevent unauthorized access during maintenance periods.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper access control implementation within the plugin's REST API handlers. When maintenance mode is enabled, the plugin should restrict access to protected posts and content to authorized users only. However, the vulnerability allows attackers to query the REST API endpoints without authentication credentials, enabling them to retrieve sensitive information that should remain hidden during maintenance operations. This flaw directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a critical failure in the plugin's authorization mechanisms. The vulnerability can be classified under CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for data from information repositories, as it enables unauthorized access to protected content through API interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a persistent security risk for WordPress sites using the affected plugin. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to gather sensitive data including unpublished posts, draft content, user information, and potentially administrative details that should remain confidential during maintenance operations. The exposure affects not only the content itself but also compromises the integrity of the site's security posture, as it demonstrates a fundamental flaw in how the plugin handles access control. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the API level, making it difficult to detect through traditional monitoring approaches and allowing attackers to systematically harvest protected information without leaving obvious traces.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-1418 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the access control flaw, as this represents the most direct solution to the vulnerability. Organizations should also implement additional security measures including API rate limiting, IP whitelisting for REST API endpoints, and enhanced monitoring of API access patterns to detect unauthorized queries. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block suspicious API requests, while regular security audits should verify that maintenance mode configurations are properly enforced. The vulnerability highlights the importance of validating access controls at every API endpoint and implementing proper authentication checks before exposing sensitive data, as recommended by security frameworks such as the OWASP API Security Top 10. Administrators should also consider implementing additional layers of security including two-factor authentication for administrative access and regular security assessments of third-party plugins to prevent similar vulnerabilities from compromising site security.