CVE-2024-1851 in affiliate-toolkit Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/08/2024
The affiliate-toolkit – WordPress Affiliate Plugin plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized access due to a missing capability check on the atkp_create_list() function in all versions up to, and including, 3.5.4. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level access and above, to to perform unauthorized actions such as creating product lists.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2026
The CVE-2024-1851 vulnerability affects the affiliate-toolkit WordPress plugin, specifically targeting versions up to and including 3.5.4. This represents a critical authorization flaw that undermines the plugin's security model by failing to implement proper capability checks. The vulnerability resides within the atkp_create_list() function, which serves as an entry point for creating product lists within the affiliate marketing framework. The absence of role-based access controls means that any authenticated user with subscriber-level privileges can exploit this functionality, fundamentally compromising the plugin's intended access restrictions.
The technical implementation flaw stems from the plugin's failure to validate user permissions before executing sensitive operations. According to CWE-284, this vulnerability constitutes an improper access control issue where the system does not properly enforce authorization checks. The atkp_create_list() function operates without verifying whether the requesting user possesses the necessary administrative or affiliate manager privileges required to create product lists. This missing capability check creates a direct pathway for privilege escalation within the plugin's functionality, allowing lower-privileged users to perform actions typically restricted to administrators or designated affiliate managers.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables authenticated attackers with subscriber-level access to manipulate affiliate marketing data and create unauthorized product lists. The impact extends beyond simple data modification as it allows for potential revenue manipulation, competitive intelligence gathering, and disruption of legitimate affiliate marketing operations. Attackers could create fake product lists to mislead other affiliates, manipulate affiliate commissions, or establish unauthorized marketing channels. This vulnerability directly affects the integrity and confidentiality of affiliate marketing data, potentially leading to financial losses and reputational damage for website owners who rely on the plugin for their affiliate marketing campaigns. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which involves valid accounts being used to gain access to systems, as it exploits legitimate user accounts with minimal privileges to perform unauthorized actions.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2024-1851 requires immediate attention through plugin updates to versions that properly implement capability checks. WordPress administrators should ensure they upgrade to the latest version of the affiliate-toolkit plugin where the missing authorization controls have been implemented. Additionally, implementing network-level monitoring to detect unusual product list creation activities can serve as a secondary defense measure. Access control policies should be reviewed to ensure that only users with appropriate roles can access affiliate marketing functions. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and capability checking in web applications, as outlined in OWASP Top Ten category A05:2021 - Security Misconfiguration. Organizations should also consider implementing role-based access control mechanisms that enforce least privilege principles and regularly audit user permissions to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive functionality.