CVE-2024-37241 in WP Job Manager Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/02/2025
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Automattic WP Job Manager - Resume Manager allows Cross Site Request Forgery.This issue affects WP Job Manager - Resume Manager: from n/a through 2.1.0.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2025
The CVE-2024-37241 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the Automattic WP Job Manager - Resume Manager plugin, which operates within the WordPress ecosystem. This vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of request origins and lacks proper anti-CSRF token implementation in the plugin's administrative interfaces. The flaw exists in versions ranging from the initial release through 2.1.0, indicating a prolonged period during which the plugin was susceptible to malicious exploitation. The vulnerability specifically impacts the resume management functionality of the plugin, which handles user-generated content and administrative operations related to job seeker resumes and applications.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability occurs when authenticated users interact with the plugin's administrative endpoints without proper origin verification or token validation mechanisms. Attackers can craft malicious web pages or emails that, when visited by authenticated administrators or users with appropriate privileges, automatically submit requests to the vulnerable plugin's endpoints. This allows unauthorized actions to be performed on behalf of legitimate users, potentially leading to data manipulation, unauthorized access to resume information, or even complete compromise of the plugin's administrative functionality. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses in web applications, and demonstrates a failure to implement proper request integrity checks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it enables attackers to perform administrative actions that could fundamentally alter the plugin's functionality or compromise user data. An attacker could potentially modify resume submissions, delete user profiles, or manipulate job application data without the knowledge of the affected users. This vulnerability particularly threatens organizations relying on job management platforms where resume data contains sensitive personal information, potentially leading to identity theft or other forms of data misuse. The attack vector requires minimal technical expertise and can be executed through social engineering techniques, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators frequently click on links or visit untrusted websites.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of the WP Job Manager - Resume Manager plugin where the CSRF vulnerability has been patched. The recommended remediation involves applying the official security update from Automattic, which typically includes proper implementation of anti-CSRF tokens and origin verification mechanisms. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional security measures such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious cross-site request patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches in content management systems, as highlighted by ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications. Organizations should also review their plugin ecosystem for similar CSRF vulnerabilities and implement comprehensive security monitoring to detect unauthorized administrative activities.