CVE-2024-24850 in Quicksand Post Filter jQuery Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/11/2024
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Mark Stockton Quicksand Post Filter jQuery Plugin.This issue affects Quicksand Post Filter jQuery Plugin: from n/a through 3.1.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-24850 represents a critical missing authorization flaw within the Quicksand Post Filter jQuery Plugin developed by Mark Stockton. This security weakness manifests as an insufficient access control mechanism that allows unauthorized users to perform actions they should not be permitted to execute. The vulnerability exists across all versions of the plugin from the initial release through version 3.1.1, indicating a long-standing security gap that has not been properly addressed. The affected plugin is commonly used in WordPress environments to filter and display posts dynamically, making it a potentially attractive target for attackers seeking to exploit content management system vulnerabilities.
The technical nature of this missing authorization issue stems from the plugin's failure to properly validate user permissions before executing sensitive operations. When users interact with the plugin's functionality, particularly during post filtering and display processes, the system does not adequately verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary privileges to access or modify the requested content. This flaw falls under the CWE-863 category of "Incorrect Authorization" which specifically addresses situations where software fails to properly enforce access control mechanisms. The vulnerability creates an attack surface where malicious actors can potentially manipulate the plugin's behavior to access restricted content or perform administrative functions without proper authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data exposure and system compromise within WordPress environments. Attackers exploiting this weakness could gain access to private posts, draft content, or other restricted information that should only be visible to authorized users. The vulnerability particularly affects WordPress sites that rely on the Quicksand Post Filter plugin for dynamic content presentation, potentially allowing threat actors to escalate privileges or extract sensitive data. This issue directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers valid accounts used for unauthorized access, as the vulnerability enables unauthorized operations using legitimate plugin functionality.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-24850 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to the latest available version where the authorization flaw has been addressed. System administrators must conduct thorough inventory checks to identify all WordPress installations utilizing this plugin and ensure they are running patched versions. Additional protective measures include implementing robust access control policies, monitoring plugin usage patterns for anomalous behavior, and conducting regular security audits of WordPress installations. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining current plugin versions and the necessity of comprehensive security testing for third-party components integrated into content management systems. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar authorization gaps in other plugins or custom code components.