CVE-2024-27955 in Automatic Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/17/2024
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in WP Automatic Automatic allows Privilege Escalation.This issue affects Automatic: from n/a through 3.92.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2025
The CVE-2024-27955 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the WP Automatic plugin, specifically impacting versions through 3.92.0. This vulnerability exists within the automatic plugin's privilege escalation mechanism, creating a significant security risk for WordPress installations that utilize this tool. The flaw allows authenticated attackers with lower privileges to potentially escalate their access level within the system, fundamentally compromising the security model of affected installations. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's handling of user requests and authentication tokens, exploiting a weakness in the validation process that should prevent unauthorized privilege changes.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from inadequate protection mechanisms within the plugin's administrative interfaces. The flaw occurs when the plugin fails to properly validate or verify the authenticity of requests originating from authenticated users, particularly when these requests involve privilege modification operations. Attackers can craft malicious requests that appear legitimate to the system but are actually designed to elevate their privileges without proper authorization. This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities. The weakness manifests when the system does not adequately verify the source of requests or fails to implement proper anti-CSRF token validation in critical administrative functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it creates a pathway for attackers to gain unauthorized administrative access to WordPress sites. When exploited successfully, this vulnerability allows threat actors to modify plugin settings, access sensitive data, and potentially compromise entire websites. The attack surface is particularly concerning because the vulnerability affects the automatic plugin's core functionality, which typically handles automated tasks and content management operations. Organizations using WP Automatic plugin versions through 3.92.0 face significant risk of unauthorized access and potential data breaches, as the flaw enables attackers to bypass normal access controls and gain elevated privileges within the system. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete system compromise if not addressed promptly.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-27955 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected WP Automatic plugin to version 3.92.1 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement additional protective measures such as monitoring for suspicious administrative activities and ensuring that all users have appropriate access controls in place. Network-level protections including web application firewalls can help detect and block malicious requests attempting to exploit this vulnerability. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of their WordPress installations to identify any other potentially vulnerable plugins or themes that might share similar security flaws. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and token management practices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 which addresses valid accounts and privilege escalation. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar weaknesses in the broader WordPress ecosystem and prevent exploitation of similar CSRF vulnerabilities in other components.