CVE-2024-32515 in Mega Addons for Elementor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/17/2024
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Qamar Sheeraz, Nasir Ahmad Mega Addons For Elementor.This issue affects Mega Addons For Elementor: from n/a through 1.8.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2024-32515 represents a critical missing authorization flaw within the Mega Addons For Elementor plugin, specifically impacting versions prior to 1.8. This issue stems from insufficient access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized users to perform administrative actions without proper authentication. The vulnerability exists in the plugin's handling of user permissions and authorization checks, creating a pathway for privilege escalation attacks. Such flaws are particularly dangerous in content management systems where plugins often require elevated privileges to function properly. The affected plugin, Mega Addons For Elementor, is widely used for extending the functionality of WordPress websites through the Elementor page builder interface.
The technical implementation of this missing authorization vulnerability occurs when the plugin fails to validate user roles and capabilities before executing sensitive operations. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious requests that bypass normal authorization flows, potentially gaining access to administrative functions that should only be available to authorized administrators. This type of vulnerability typically manifests when the application does not properly verify that the requesting user possesses the necessary privileges to perform the requested action. The flaw allows unauthenticated or low-privileged users to access restricted endpoints, modify plugin settings, or potentially manipulate website content through the compromised addon functionality. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and proper access control implementation.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-32515 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can enable complete compromise of affected WordPress installations. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability may gain the ability to install malicious code, modify website content, manipulate user accounts, or even establish persistent backdoors within the compromised systems. The vulnerability's presence in the Mega Addons For Elementor plugin creates a significant risk for websites relying on this addon for their frontend functionality, as it directly undermines the security boundaries that should protect administrative operations. This flaw can be particularly devastating for businesses or organizations that depend on WordPress for their digital presence, as it provides attackers with a direct route to compromise their online assets.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately upgrade to version 1.8 or later of the Mega Addons For Elementor plugin to remediate the missing authorization issue. System administrators should conduct thorough security assessments of their WordPress installations to identify any potential exploitation attempts or unauthorized modifications that may have occurred. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which describes improper authorization scenarios in software applications, and represents a clear violation of the authorization principles defined in the OWASP Top Ten. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms, as attackers can leverage the missing authorization to gain elevated system access. Security teams should also implement network monitoring to detect anomalous access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and consider conducting comprehensive penetration testing to verify the effectiveness of the applied patches.