CVE-2024-3097 in Gallery Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/10/2024
The WordPress Gallery Plugin – NextGEN Gallery plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized access of data due to a missing capability check on the get_item function in versions up to, and including, 3.59. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to extract sensitive data including EXIF and other metadata of any image uploaded through the plugin.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-3097 affects the NextGEN Gallery plugin for WordPress, a widely used media management solution that enables users to create and display image galleries with advanced features including EXIF metadata extraction. This security flaw represents a critical authorization bypass issue that undermines the fundamental security model of the plugin. The vulnerability exists within the get_item function where the plugin fails to properly validate user permissions before exposing sensitive data, creating a pathway for attackers to access protected information without proper authentication. The affected versions range from the initial release up to and including version 3.59, indicating this weakness has persisted for an extended period within the plugin's codebase.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a missing capability check within the plugin's API endpoint handling. When the get_item function processes requests for individual gallery items, it does not verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary permissions to access the specific data being requested. This oversight creates a direct information disclosure vulnerability that allows any attacker to craft malicious requests and retrieve metadata from images stored within the gallery system. The exposed data includes EXIF information, which contains sensitive details such as camera model, lens specifications, GPS coordinates, and timestamps that could reveal user location data and device information. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-284, which specifically addresses improper access control mechanisms in software applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to potentially compromise user privacy and system security. Unauthenticated attackers can systematically harvest metadata from all images within the gallery, potentially collecting location data that could be used for social engineering attacks or tracking user movements. The exposure of EXIF data also reveals technical information about the devices used to capture images, which could be leveraged in targeted attacks against specific camera models or operating systems. Additionally, the metadata might contain embedded information about image processing workflows or software versions that could aid in crafting more sophisticated attacks against the WordPress installation or underlying infrastructure. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002, which covers data from information repositories, specifically targeting the extraction of metadata and embedded information from digital assets.
Organizations running vulnerable versions of the NextGEN Gallery plugin face significant risk of unauthorized data access and potential privacy violations. The vulnerability affects any WordPress site that utilizes this plugin for gallery management, making it a widespread concern across numerous websites and potentially affecting both personal and enterprise installations. Security teams should prioritize immediate remediation through plugin updates to version 3.60 or later, which contains the necessary capability checks to prevent unauthorized access. System administrators should also implement network-level monitoring to detect unusual patterns of requests to gallery endpoints, as this could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and access control mechanisms in web applications, particularly when dealing with user-generated content that may contain sensitive embedded metadata. Regular security audits of third-party plugins and maintaining up-to-date software versions remain essential practices for preventing such exposure scenarios.