CVE-2024-1476 in Under Construction Maintenance Mode Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/28/2024
The Under Construction / Maintenance Mode from Acurax plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Sensitive Information Exposure in all versions up to, and including, 2.6 via the REST API. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to obtain the contents of posts and pages when maintenance mode is active thus bypassing the protection provided by the plugin.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-1476 affects the Under Construction / Maintenance Mode plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions up to and including 2.6. This security flaw represents a critical exposure in the plugin's implementation of maintenance mode protection, where the system fails to properly restrict access to sensitive content during maintenance periods. The vulnerability manifests through the REST API endpoint, which should normally be restricted to authenticated users but instead allows unauthenticated access to content that would typically be protected during maintenance operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper access control implementation within the plugin's REST API handlers. When maintenance mode is activated, the plugin should enforce strict authentication requirements to prevent unauthorized access to the website's content. However, the flaw allows attackers to bypass these protections through the REST API interface, enabling them to retrieve the contents of posts and pages that are normally hidden from public view. This represents a fundamental failure in the plugin's security architecture, where the maintenance mode protection mechanism becomes ineffective against unauthenticated requests.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it fundamentally undermines the security assumptions that website administrators rely upon when implementing maintenance mode. Attackers can exploit this flaw to gain access to unpublished content, draft posts, private pages, and other sensitive materials that should remain hidden during maintenance periods. This exposure could lead to competitive intelligence theft, premature disclosure of business plans, or unauthorized access to confidential information that would normally be protected by the maintenance mode functionality. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects all versions up to 2.6, suggesting that a significant user base may be impacted without any indication of patch availability.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses Information Disclosure, and represents a classic case of insufficient access control. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique where an attacker gains access to resources that should be restricted to authorized users. The vulnerability demonstrates how third-party plugins can introduce security weaknesses that compromise the overall security posture of a WordPress installation, particularly when these plugins implement security features that fail to properly enforce access controls. Organizations relying on this plugin for maintenance mode protection may unknowingly expose sensitive content to unauthorized parties, creating potential data breach scenarios that could have serious legal and financial implications.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate remediation through plugin updates when available, though the vulnerability affects all versions up to 2.6, suggesting a need for alternative security measures. Administrators should consider implementing additional access controls at the web server level, such as restricting API access through .htaccess rules or firewall configurations. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of conducting security assessments of third-party plugins before deployment, particularly those that implement security-critical functionality. Organizations should monitor for patches from the plugin vendor and consider alternative maintenance mode solutions that have been independently verified for proper access control implementation. Regular security audits of WordPress installations should include verification that maintenance mode functionality is properly protecting sensitive content, as this vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly benign security features can become attack vectors when not properly implemented.