CVE-2024-37096 in Popup Box Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/01/2024
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Popup Box Team Popup allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects Popup box: from n/a through 4.5.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-37096 represents a critical authorization flaw within the Popup Box plugin, specifically affecting versions ranging from n/a through 4.5.1. This security weakness stems from improperly configured access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized users to exploit the system's security boundaries. The issue resides in the plugin's failure to properly validate user permissions before granting access to sensitive administrative functions or content management features. Such a misconfiguration creates an attack surface where malicious actors can bypass intended security controls and gain unauthorized access to restricted areas of the application.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through inadequate input validation and access control checks within the plugin's codebase. When users attempt to perform administrative actions or access protected resources, the system fails to properly authenticate and authorize their requests. This flaw typically occurs when the application does not adequately verify user roles or permissions before executing sensitive operations. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including direct manipulation of request parameters, session hijacking, or by leveraging existing user sessions to perform unauthorized actions. The missing authorization check creates a pathway for privilege escalation where unauthenticated or low-privileged users can potentially execute functions intended only for administrators or authorized personnel.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, potentially enabling full administrative control over affected systems. Attackers exploiting this weakness can manipulate popup configurations, modify content, access sensitive data, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the application environment. The consequences can include data breaches, content tampering, service disruption, and potential lateral movement within the network. Organizations utilizing vulnerable versions of the Popup Box plugin face significant risks including compliance violations, reputation damage, and potential regulatory penalties. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe in environments where the plugin is used for critical business functions or contains sensitive user information.
Security mitigations for CVE-2024-37096 should prioritize immediate remediation through the installation of the latest plugin version that addresses the authorization flaw. System administrators must implement comprehensive access control reviews to ensure proper user role definitions and privilege assignments. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous access patterns and unauthorized administrative activities. The implementation of multi-factor authentication and regular security audits can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider applying web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious requests targeting the vulnerable plugin functionality. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-862 which specifically addresses insufficient authorization issues, and maps to attack techniques within the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation and defense evasion categories. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar authorization weaknesses in other components of the application stack.