CVE-2024-32799 in Easy Property Listings Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/09/2024
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Merv Barrett Easy Property Listings.This issue affects Easy Property Listings: from n/a through 3.5.3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2024
The CVE-2024-32799 vulnerability represents a critical authorization flaw within the Merv Barrett Easy Property Listings WordPress plugin, specifically impacting versions ranging from the initial release through 3.5.3. This missing authorization issue fundamentally undermines the security controls that should govern access to administrative functions and sensitive data within the plugin's ecosystem. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user permissions before allowing execution of privileged operations, creating a pathway for unauthorized individuals to bypass normal access controls and potentially gain elevated privileges within the affected system.
This technical flaw manifests as a failure to properly verify whether requesting users possess appropriate authorization levels before executing sensitive operations within the property listing management interface. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-863 category of "Incorrect Authorization" which specifically addresses situations where the system fails to properly enforce access control policies. Attackers exploiting this weakness could potentially manipulate the plugin's administrative functions to modify property listings, access confidential data, or perform other unauthorized actions that should only be available to legitimate administrators. The issue represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege, where the system does not adequately distinguish between different user roles and their respective access rights.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass potential complete system compromise and data integrity violations. An attacker who successfully exploits this authorization gap could manipulate property listings, potentially introducing malicious content, altering pricing information, or accessing private user data associated with property inquiries. The vulnerability's scope is particularly concerning given that it affects multiple versions of the plugin, suggesting a persistent architectural flaw rather than a one-time coding error. This allows attackers to target installations across a wide range of plugin versions, increasing the potential attack surface and making remediation more challenging for system administrators who must update across multiple installations.
Security practitioners should immediately implement mitigations including immediate plugin updates to versions that address the authorization flaw, along with comprehensive monitoring of administrative access logs for suspicious activities. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers legitimate credentials, as unauthorized access through missing authorization controls essentially allows attackers to operate with elevated privileges. Organizations should also consider implementing additional access controls such as two-factor authentication, network segmentation, and regular security audits to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The issue highlights the critical importance of proper input validation and authorization checking in web applications, particularly within content management systems where plugins often handle sensitive user data and administrative functions.