CVE-2024-49219 in RS-Members Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/17/2024
Incorrect Privilege Assignment vulnerability in themexpo RS-Members rs-members allows Privilege Escalation.This issue affects RS-Members: from n/a through <= 1.0.3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2026
The CVE-2024-49219 vulnerability represents a critical privilege assignment flaw within the themexpo RS-Members plugin version 1.0.3 and earlier, constituting a significant security risk for affected systems. This vulnerability falls under the category of incorrect privilege assignment as defined by CWE-269, where the system fails to properly enforce authorization controls, allowing unauthorized users to gain elevated privileges. The issue specifically impacts the RS-Members plugin, which is designed to manage membership functionalities within WordPress environments, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise user accounts and system integrity.
The technical flaw manifests through improper privilege assignment mechanisms that fail to adequately validate user roles and permissions during membership operations. When users interact with the plugin's core functionalities, the system does not correctly enforce access controls, potentially allowing lower-privilege users to perform actions typically restricted to administrators or privileged members. This misconfiguration creates a pathway for privilege escalation attacks where malicious actors can leverage the vulnerability to assume higher user roles and gain unauthorized access to sensitive system functions. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple access control failures, as it can enable attackers to manipulate membership databases, modify user permissions, and potentially compromise the entire WordPress installation through the compromised membership management system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial, particularly in environments where the RS-Members plugin is actively used to manage user access and membership tiers. Attackers exploiting this flaw can escalate their privileges from standard users to administrators, potentially gaining complete control over the affected WordPress site. This privilege escalation capability allows malicious actors to modify or delete content, install malware, alter user accounts, and access sensitive data stored within the membership system. The vulnerability's presence in versions through 1.0.3 indicates a prolonged exposure period, increasing the likelihood that affected systems have been compromised without detection. Organizations relying on this plugin for membership management face significant risks including data breaches, unauthorized modifications, and potential service disruption.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-49219 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the privilege assignment flaw, as recommended by the vendor and security advisories. System administrators must conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the affected plugin across their infrastructure and implement immediate patching protocols. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs. The remediation process should include thorough testing of updated plugin versions to ensure compatibility with existing systems while verifying that the privilege assignment mechanisms now properly enforce authorization controls. Organizations should also monitor their systems for signs of exploitation through log analysis and intrusion detection systems, as the vulnerability's exploitation may leave detectable traces in system logs. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple user roles exist and proper access controls are essential for maintaining security boundaries.