CVE-2024-4750 in buddyboss-platform Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/04/2024
The buddyboss-platform WordPress plugin before 2.6.0 contains an IDOR vulnerability that allows a user to like a private post by manipulating the ID included in the request
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2024
The buddyboss-platform WordPress plugin vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-4750 represents a critical insecure direct object reference flaw that undermines the platform's access control mechanisms. This vulnerability affects versions prior to 2.6.0 and specifically targets the plugin's handling of post liking functionality, creating a significant security gap that allows unauthorized users to manipulate object references and gain access to private content. The issue stems from insufficient validation of user permissions when processing requests to like private posts, enabling malicious actors to exploit the system's trust in client-side data integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the plugin's backend processing logic where the system fails to properly verify whether the requesting user has legitimate access rights to the target post before executing the like operation. When a user attempts to like a private post, the system should validate that the post exists and that the current user has appropriate permissions to interact with it. However, the vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate the post identifier parameter in their requests, bypassing these authorization checks and enabling them to like posts they should not have access to. This flaw operates at the application layer and demonstrates a classic IDOR pattern where the system directly references objects without proper access control validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to private content, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks within the platform's ecosystem. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to gather intelligence about private content, potentially identifying sensitive information or user activities within the community platform. The ability to like private posts also creates opportunities for social engineering attacks, where malicious users could manipulate engagement metrics or create false impressions about content popularity. From a compliance standpoint, this vulnerability could lead to data exposure violations and undermine user privacy expectations within the platform's community framework. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the platform's engagement features and could potentially be exploited in combination with other weaknesses to escalate privileges or access additional restricted resources.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust access control validation mechanisms that verify user permissions before processing any object manipulation requests. The fix requires the plugin to validate that the requesting user has proper authorization to access the target post before allowing the like operation to proceed, utilizing proper authentication and authorization checks that align with established security frameworks. Organizations should implement input validation and parameter sanitization to prevent manipulation of object references, while also ensuring that all API endpoints properly enforce access controls. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software systems. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of access control mechanisms and implementation of proper session management to prevent unauthorized access to private resources, ensuring that the platform maintains its intended security posture and protects user privacy.