CVE-2024-2476 in OceanWP Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/29/2024
The OceanWP theme for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized access of data due to a missing capability check on the load_theme_panel_pane 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 expose sensitive information such as system/environment data and API keys.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/14/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-2476 affects the OceanWP WordPress theme, representing a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security posture of affected installations. This issue stems from a fundamental missing capability check within the load_theme_panel_pane function, which operates across all versions of the theme up to and including version 3.5.4. The flaw exists within the theme's administrative interface where proper access controls should be enforced to prevent unauthorized data exposure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the theme's backend functionality where the load_theme_panel_pane function fails to verify whether the requesting user possesses adequate privileges before processing sensitive data requests. This missing capability check creates a direct pathway for authenticated attackers who have achieved subscriber-level access or higher to bypass normal security boundaries. The function's design does not properly validate user permissions against the specific capabilities required to access theme panel data, allowing privilege escalation through unauthorized data retrieval.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to WordPress installations using the affected OceanWP theme. Attackers with minimal privileges can exploit this flaw to extract sensitive system information including environment configurations, server details, and potentially API keys that may be stored within the theme's panel data structures. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as these exposed credentials could enable further attacks or compromise additional system components. The vulnerability affects the principle of least privilege by allowing users with subscriber-level access to access data typically restricted to administrators or theme developers.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software systems. This classification specifically addresses situations where access control mechanisms fail to properly enforce authorization checks, allowing unauthorized users to access protected resources. The attack vector follows patterns consistent with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, where attackers leverage existing access to expand their capabilities within the target environment. This vulnerability could potentially serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, as the exposed information may reveal system architecture details that could be exploited in subsequent phases of an attack.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to the patched version of the OceanWP theme, which addresses the missing capability check in the load_theme_panel_pane function. Additionally, administrators should review user permissions and implement role-based access controls to minimize the impact of potential exploitation. Regular security audits of WordPress themes and plugins should be conducted to identify similar authorization flaws, and network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual data access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and capability checks in all administrative functions, particularly those that handle sensitive data within content management systems.