CVE-2024-1860 in Disable Json API, Login Lockdown, XMLRPC, Pingback, Stop User Enumeration Anti Hacker Scan Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/28/2024
The Disable Json API, Login Lockdown, XMLRPC, Pingback, Stop User Enumeration Anti Hacker Scan plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capability check on the antihacker_add_whitelist() function in all versions up to, and including, 4.51. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to add their IP Address to the whitelist circumventing protection
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/12/2025
The CVE-2024-1860 vulnerability affects a popular WordPress security plugin designed to protect against various hacking attempts including unauthorized access through xmlrpc and user enumeration attacks. This particular plugin implements multiple security measures including disabling json api endpoints, login lockdown mechanisms, xmlrpc and pingback protections, and anti-hacker scan features. The vulnerability stems from a critical design flaw in the antihacker_add_whitelist() function that fails to properly validate user permissions before allowing IP address additions to the whitelist. This missing capability check represents a fundamental security oversight that directly violates the principle of least privilege and proper access control enforcement.
The technical flaw manifests as an insufficient authorization check within the plugin's core functionality. When an attacker invokes the antihacker_add_whitelist() function without proper authentication or capability verification, the system accepts the request and adds the malicious IP address to the whitelist without any verification of the requester's authorization level. This vulnerability exists across all plugin versions up to and including 4.51, indicating a persistent flaw that has not been properly addressed in the plugin's development lifecycle. The absence of proper capability validation allows any unauthenticated user to manipulate the security configuration, effectively bypassing the very protections the plugin was designed to provide.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for WordPress sites utilizing this plugin. An unauthenticated attacker can exploit this weakness to gain persistent access to the site's security configuration by adding their IP address to the whitelist, thereby circumventing all protection mechanisms that rely on the whitelist functionality. This creates a backdoor that can be used to bypass login lockdown measures, xmlrpc restrictions, and other anti-hacker protections. The vulnerability essentially transforms the plugin from a security enhancement into a security liability, as it enables attackers to weaken the site's defenses rather than strengthen them. This type of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-284 which addresses improper access control issues in software systems.
Security implications extend beyond simple whitelist manipulation as this vulnerability can be leveraged as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks. Once an attacker has added their IP to the whitelist, they can then proceed with other exploitation techniques such as brute force attacks against login pages, xmlrpc abuse, or user enumeration attempts that would otherwise be blocked by the plugin's protective mechanisms. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers valid accounts through web shell usage and privilege escalation tactics. Organizations relying on this plugin for security protection may find their defenses completely undermined, as the plugin's own functionality becomes weaponized against them.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate plugin updates to versions that address the capability check vulnerability, along with comprehensive security auditing of existing whitelist configurations. Administrators should implement additional monitoring for unauthorized whitelist modifications and consider implementing network-level controls to restrict access to the affected plugin endpoints. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in security software, particularly in plugins that directly modify system security configurations. Organizations should also conduct thorough security reviews of all installed plugins to identify similar capability check failures that could potentially be exploited in the same manner.