CVE-2024-32142 in Ovic Responsive WPBakery Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/18/2024
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Ovic Team Ovic Responsive WPBakery.This issue affects Ovic Responsive WPBakery: from n/a through 1.3.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2024
The CVE-2024-32142 vulnerability represents a critical missing authorization flaw within the Ovic Team Ovic Responsive WPBakery plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability stems from insufficient access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized users to perform administrative actions typically restricted to authorized personnel. The affected version range spans from an unspecified starting point through version 1.3.0, indicating that all iterations within this scope are potentially compromised. The vulnerability specifically impacts the plugin's ability to verify user permissions before executing sensitive operations, creating a pathway for privilege escalation attacks. This type of authorization gap directly violates fundamental security principles and creates opportunities for malicious actors to exploit the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the application logic level where the plugin fails to properly validate user credentials and roles before processing administrative requests. When users attempt to access restricted functionalities or modify plugin settings, the system does not adequately verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary privileges to perform such actions. This flaw typically manifests when the plugin relies on incomplete session validation or improper role checking mechanisms. The vulnerability can be exploited by any authenticated user who might not have administrative privileges, allowing them to bypass intended access controls and gain unauthorized access to administrative features. This weakness aligns with CWE-284, which specifically addresses improper access control issues in software applications, and represents a classic example of insufficient authorization checks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, creating significant risks for WordPress installations using the affected plugin. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially modify plugin configurations, access sensitive data, manipulate content, or even compromise the entire WordPress installation. The attack surface is particularly concerning because WPBakery is a widely used page builder plugin that often requires extensive administrative permissions to function properly. This vulnerability could enable attackers to modify website content, inject malicious code, or establish persistent access points within the compromised system. The implications are especially severe in multi-user environments where the plugin might be used for collaborative content management, as unauthorized users could disrupt normal operations or compromise data integrity.
Security mitigations for CVE-2024-32142 should prioritize immediate patching of affected versions to address the authorization flaw. Organizations should ensure they are running the latest version of the Ovic Responsive WPBakery plugin where the vulnerability has been resolved. In addition to updating the plugin, administrators should implement comprehensive access control measures including regular privilege reviews, monitoring of administrative activities, and implementation of multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts. Network-level security controls such as web application firewalls should be configured to detect and block suspicious administrative requests. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security audits and penetration testing to identify similar authorization gaps in other plugins and themes. Organizations should consider implementing principle of least privilege models where users are granted only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their specific tasks, reducing the potential impact of such authorization flaws. This remediation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which focuses on valid accounts and privilege escalation methods that attackers often exploit to maintain persistent access within compromised systems.