CVE-2024-43314 in Asset CleanUp Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/01/2024
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Gabe Livan Asset CleanUp: Page Speed Booster allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects Asset CleanUp: Page Speed Booster: from n/a through 1.3.9.3.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/13/2024
The CVE-2024-43314 vulnerability represents a critical missing authorization flaw within the Gabe Livan Asset CleanUp: Page Speed Booster plugin for WordPress systems. This security weakness manifests as an incorrectly configured access control mechanism that permits unauthorized users to exploit administrative functions typically restricted to legitimate administrators. The vulnerability exists across all versions of the plugin from the initial release through version 1.3.9.3, indicating a persistent security gap that has remained unaddressed for an extended period. The affected plugin operates as a page speed optimization tool that manages various website resources including scripts, stylesheets, and other frontend elements, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to manipulate website performance settings and potentially gain deeper system access.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under the category of insufficient authorization checks as classified by CWE-285, where the plugin fails to properly verify user permissions before executing sensitive operations. Attackers can exploit this weakness to perform actions that should only be available to authenticated administrators, potentially allowing them to modify plugin configurations, access restricted data, or manipulate website performance optimization settings. The flaw likely occurs in the plugin's user role validation mechanisms where insufficient checks are performed to confirm that the requesting user possesses the appropriate administrative privileges before allowing access to privileged functions. This misconfiguration creates a path for low-privilege users or even unauthenticated attackers to bypass normal access controls and execute administrative commands within the plugin's interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can enable attackers to manipulate website performance optimization parameters that may affect site availability, functionality, and overall security posture. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially degrade website performance, inject malicious code through compromised optimization settings, or use the plugin as a foothold for further attacks against the WordPress installation. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the Asset CleanUp plugin is designed to manage core website resources, making it a valuable target for threat actors seeking persistent access or to disrupt normal website operations. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which involves exploiting local system privileges, though in this case the privilege escalation occurs through web application access control misconfiguration.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate plugin updates to versions that address the authorization flaw, as well as implementing additional security measures to reduce the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. System administrators should conduct thorough security audits of all installed WordPress plugins to identify similar authorization issues, particularly in plugins that manage website performance or configuration settings. The implementation of web application firewalls and additional access control layers can provide defense-in-depth measures to protect against exploitation attempts. Regular security monitoring and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify and remediate similar access control misconfigurations across the entire WordPress ecosystem. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls and ensuring that all administrative functions within web applications properly validate user permissions before execution to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future.