CVE-2024-37250 in Advanced Custom Fields Pro Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/01/2024
Missing Authorization vulnerability in WPEngine Inc. Advanced Custom Fields PRO allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects Advanced Custom Fields PRO: from n/a through 6.3.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-37250 represents a critical missing authorization flaw within the Advanced Custom Fields PRO plugin developed by WPEngine Inc. This security weakness manifests as an incorrectly configured access control security level that enables unauthorized exploitation. The affected version range spans from unspecified initial versions through 6.3.1, indicating a prolonged period during which this vulnerability remained unaddressed. The issue falls under the broader category of improper access control mechanisms that can lead to privilege escalation and unauthorized data access. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-285 which specifically addresses improper authorization within software applications. The flaw essentially allows attackers to bypass intended access controls and potentially gain elevated privileges or access to restricted functionality within the plugin's administrative interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user permissions and roles within the Advanced Custom Fields PRO plugin. When users interact with the plugin's administrative features, the system fails to properly verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary authorization levels to perform specific actions. This misconfiguration creates a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system by crafting requests that would normally be restricted to authorized personnel only. The vulnerability particularly impacts the plugin's ability to enforce role-based access control, allowing unauthorized users to access administrative functions that should be limited to privileged administrators. This misconfiguration aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and credential access, as the flaw enables unauthorized access through legitimate plugin interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data compromise and system integrity violations. Attackers who successfully exploit this flaw could manipulate custom field configurations, access sensitive content, or potentially escalate privileges to gain broader system access. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions indicates that organizations using Advanced Custom Fields PRO within WordPress environments face ongoing risk exposure. This issue particularly affects WordPress installations where the plugin is used for managing custom content types and fields, potentially exposing business-critical data and configuration settings. Organizations with complex access control requirements and those handling sensitive information are especially vulnerable to exploitation attempts targeting this weakness.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-37250 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the authorization flaw. System administrators must ensure that all instances of Advanced Custom Fields PRO are updated to the latest secure version available from WPEngine Inc. Additionally, implementing network-level access controls and monitoring for unusual administrative activity can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of all WordPress installations using this plugin to verify proper access control configurations. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Organizations should also review and enforce strict role-based access control policies within their WordPress environments to minimize potential impact from similar authorization flaws. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for improperly configured access controls to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by threat actors.