CVE-2024-3750 in Visualizer Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/16/2024
The Visualizer: Tables and Charts Manager for WordPress plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification and retrieval of data due to a missing capability check on the getQueryData() function in all versions up to, and including, 3.10.15. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level access and above, to perform arbitrary SQL queries that can be leveraged for privilege escalation among many other actions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/16/2024
The vulnerability in the Visualizer: Tables and Charts Manager plugin for WordPress represents a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security model of the platform. This issue affects all versions up to and including 3.10.15, where the getQueryData() function lacks proper capability verification mechanisms. The missing capability check creates an unauthorized access vector that allows attackers with subscriber-level privileges or higher to bypass normal security restrictions. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the principle of least privilege enforcement, where users should only have access to functionality commensurate with their assigned roles. The flaw exists within the plugin's core architecture and directly contradicts established security practices for web application development.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the plugin's backend processing functions. When the getQueryData() function executes, it fails to verify whether the requesting user possesses sufficient privileges to perform the requested data operations. This oversight creates a pathway for authenticated attackers to craft malicious requests that exploit the function's SQL query capabilities without proper authorization. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it enables what cybersecurity experts classify as a privilege escalation attack vector, where initial access by a low-privilege user can be leveraged to gain higher-level system permissions. According to the CWE database, this represents a classic example of CWE-285: Improper Authorization, which occurs when an application fails to properly verify that an operation is authorized for the current user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data retrieval, as it provides attackers with significant capabilities for system manipulation and information extraction. Attackers can leverage the arbitrary SQL query functionality to access sensitive user data, modify database content, and potentially escalate their privileges within the WordPress environment. This vulnerability creates opportunities for data breaches, content tampering, and potential compromise of the entire WordPress installation. The affected plugin's charting and visualization capabilities become weaponsized when combined with the SQL injection vulnerability, allowing attackers to extract information from database tables that should remain protected. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1078 Valid Accounts for initial access, T1566 Phishing for credential compromise, and T1046 Network Service Scanning for reconnaissance activities.
Organizations using affected versions of the Visualizer plugin face substantial risk exposure, particularly in environments where subscriber accounts may be compromised through social engineering or other attack vectors. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects WordPress installations where users can register or are granted subscriber privileges, making it a widespread concern across many web properties. Security teams should prioritize immediate remediation efforts and implement additional monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Recommended mitigation strategies include upgrading to the latest plugin version, implementing proper access controls through WordPress user role management, and conducting security audits of all installed plugins for similar authorization flaws. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security assessments and maintaining updated software components to prevent exploitation of known weaknesses in third-party applications.