CVE-2024-43214 in myCred Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/27/2024
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Saad Iqbal myCred mycred.This issue affects myCred: from n/a through <= 2.7.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-43214 represents a critical missing authorization flaw within the myCred plugin for WordPress, specifically impacting versions ranging from the initial release through version 2.7.2. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-862 category of "Missing Authorization" which occurs when a system fails to properly verify that an actor is authorized to perform a requested operation. The affected myCred plugin is a popular points and rewards system for WordPress platforms that allows administrators to implement various reward mechanisms for user engagement. The vulnerability stems from insufficient access control checks within the plugin's codebase, particularly in how it handles user permissions and authentication for administrative functions. Attackers exploiting this weakness could potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive administrative features and data within the WordPress environment where the plugin is installed.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests in the plugin's failure to validate user roles and capabilities before executing privileged operations. When users interact with myCred's administrative interfaces or perform actions that should require administrator privileges, the system does not properly verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary authorization levels. This oversight creates a pathway for malicious actors to escalate their privileges or access restricted functionality without proper authentication. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the authorization layer rather than authentication, meaning that even if an attacker cannot directly log in as an administrator, they might still be able to exploit this flaw to perform administrative actions. The impact extends beyond simple data access as this missing authorization check could potentially allow for arbitrary code execution, data manipulation, or complete system compromise depending on how the plugin integrates with the broader WordPress environment.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WordPress installations using the affected myCred plugin versions. The attack surface is particularly broad since WordPress is one of the most widely used content management systems, and myCred is commonly implemented across various websites including those with sensitive user data or business-critical operations. The vulnerability could be exploited through multiple attack vectors including direct API calls, manipulated form submissions, or through social engineering techniques that trick users into performing actions that trigger the unauthorized access. The lack of proper authorization checks means that attackers could potentially modify reward structures, manipulate user points balances, access user data, or even gain full administrative control over affected websites. This issue directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers Valid Accounts and T1548.002 which addresses Abuse of Functionality, demonstrating how missing authorization can be leveraged to escalate privileges within web applications.
Organizations and system administrators should immediately prioritize patching affected installations to address this vulnerability, as the myCred plugin versions 2.7.2 and earlier contain this critical flaw. The recommended mitigation strategy involves updating to the latest available version of the plugin where the authorization checks have been properly implemented and validated. Additionally, administrators should conduct thorough security audits of their WordPress installations to identify any other plugins or themes that might exhibit similar authorization flaws. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also implement proper access control policies and regularly review user permissions to minimize the impact if exploitation occurs. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper authorization implementation in web applications and aligns with the principle of least privilege enforcement. Organizations using WordPress should consider implementing automated patch management solutions to ensure timely updates of all plugins and core components. The incident also highlights the necessity of conducting regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate authorization-related vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.