CVE-2024-37475 in Newspack Newsletters Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/01/2024
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Automattic Newspack Newsletters allows Accessing Functionality Not Properly Constrained by ACLs.This issue affects Newspack Newsletters: from n/a through 2.13.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/01/2024
The CVE-2024-37475 vulnerability represents a critical authorization flaw within the Automattic Newspack Newsletters plugin, specifically impacting versions ranging from an unspecified initial version through 2.13.2. This vulnerability manifests as a missing authorization check that allows unauthorized users to access functionality that should be properly constrained by access control lists. The flaw resides in the plugin's permission handling mechanisms, where essential authorization checks are either absent or improperly implemented, creating a pathway for privilege escalation and unauthorized access to administrative features.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses insufficient authorization issues in software systems. This weakness occurs when an application fails to properly verify that an authenticated user has adequate permissions to perform a requested operation. In the context of Newspack Newsletters, this manifests as users who should not have access to certain administrative functions can potentially execute them due to the absence of proper access control validation. The vulnerability specifically affects the plugin's ability to enforce access control lists, allowing malicious actors to bypass intended security boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to potentially compromising the entire newsletter management system. Attackers could exploit this weakness to modify newsletter configurations, access sensitive subscriber data, manipulate content delivery mechanisms, or even gain deeper system access through the compromised plugin interface. The vulnerability's scope is particularly concerning given that Newspack Newsletters is widely used in WordPress environments, making it a potentially attractive target for attackers seeking to compromise multiple websites simultaneously. This issue affects not only the immediate functionality but also the overall security posture of WordPress installations that rely on the plugin for email marketing operations.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of Newspack Newsletters where the authorization flaw has been addressed, reviewing existing user permissions and access control configurations, and implementing additional monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the T1078 credential access sub-technique where adversaries gain access to resources with elevated privileges. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of all installed plugins and themes to identify similar authorization gaps, as this vulnerability type often indicates broader architectural weaknesses in access control implementation. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should include verification of access control mechanisms to prevent similar issues from emerging in other components of the WordPress ecosystem.