CVE-2024-24702 in Page Restrict Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/28/2024
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Matt Martz & Andy Stratton Page Restrict.This issue affects Page Restrict: from n/a through 2.5.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2025
The CVE-2024-24702 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the Page Restrict plugin for WordPress, specifically impacting versions ranging from an unspecified initial release through version 2.5.5. This vulnerability resides within the plugin's authorization mechanisms and authentication flow, creating a significant security risk for WordPress sites that rely on this particular plugin for access control and content restriction. The flaw allows malicious actors to exploit the absence of proper anti-CSRF token validation in the plugin's administrative functions, potentially enabling unauthorized actions to be performed on behalf of authenticated users.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to implement proper anti-CSRF token validation within its administrative interfaces and form submissions. When administrators interact with the plugin's settings or perform privileged actions, the system does not require or validate the presence of unique, unpredictable tokens that would normally prevent malicious requests from being executed. This design flaw aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities in web applications. The vulnerability exists because the plugin's backend endpoints do not properly verify that requests originate from legitimate user sessions, creating an attack surface where authenticated users can be tricked into executing unintended administrative operations through maliciously crafted requests.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it can enable attackers to perform arbitrary administrative actions within the WordPress environment where Page Restrict is installed. An attacker could potentially modify page restrictions, alter access permissions, or even delete content if the plugin's administrative functions lack proper authorization checks. This represents a serious elevation of privilege vulnerability that could compromise the integrity of the entire WordPress installation, particularly when combined with other exploitation techniques. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in multi-user environments where administrators frequently perform administrative tasks through browser sessions, as the attack requires minimal user interaction beyond the initial exploitation vector.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-24702 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that have been patched against this vulnerability, with administrators monitoring the plugin developer's release notes for specific security fixes. Organizations should implement additional security layers including web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious cross-site request patterns, as well as regular security audits of installed plugins to ensure all components are running current, secure versions. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566, which addresses Initial Access through spearphishing attachments or links, and T1078, which covers legitimate credentials usage, as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain administrative access through social engineering or compromised user sessions. Network segmentation and principle of least privilege access controls should also be implemented to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation, while regular security monitoring and log analysis can help detect anomalous administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts.