CVE-2024-49322 in Job Board Manager for WordPress Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/17/2024
Incorrect Privilege Assignment vulnerability in CodePassenger Job Board Manager for WordPress jemployee allows Privilege Escalation.This issue affects Job Board Manager for WordPress: from n/a through <= 1.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2026
The CVE-2024-49322 vulnerability represents a critical privilege assignment flaw within the CodePassenger Job Board Manager plugin for WordPress, specifically impacting version 1.0 and earlier releases. This vulnerability resides in the jemployee component of the plugin, which is designed to manage employee-related functionalities within job board systems. The flaw stems from improper handling of user role assignments and permission controls, creating a pathway for unauthorized privilege escalation. The vulnerability manifests when the plugin fails to properly validate or enforce role-based access controls during user authentication and session management processes, allowing malicious actors to exploit the system's weak privilege enforcement mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability can be categorized under CWE-276, which specifically addresses incorrect privilege assignment in software systems. The flaw occurs at the application level where the plugin does not adequately verify user permissions before granting access to administrative functions or sensitive data operations. Attackers can leverage this weakness to elevate their privileges from standard user roles to administrator levels without proper authentication or authorization. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the core privilege management layer of the plugin, affecting how the system assigns and maintains user permissions throughout the session lifecycle. This type of flaw typically arises from insufficient input validation and inadequate access control checks within the plugin's user management subsystem.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-49322 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, creating a comprehensive security breach that can compromise entire WordPress installations. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can gain full administrative control over the job board manager system, enabling them to modify job listings, manipulate user data, access confidential information, and potentially use the compromised system as a launching point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability affects the integrity and availability of the job board data, as malicious users can alter or delete critical information while maintaining persistent access through elevated privileges. This flaw directly impacts the principle of least privilege, a fundamental security concept that requires users to have only the permissions necessary to perform their specific tasks, thereby creating a significant risk for organizations relying on the plugin for their recruitment processes.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the privilege assignment flaw, as this represents the most effective remediation approach. Organizations should implement comprehensive access control reviews and ensure that all WordPress plugins are regularly updated and monitored for security vulnerabilities. The implementation of additional security measures such as web application firewalls, regular security audits, and privilege monitoring systems can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing role-based access control policies that enforce strict permission boundaries and regularly audit user accounts for unauthorized privilege changes. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation, emphasizing the importance of proper access control implementation and monitoring within web applications to prevent unauthorized elevation of privileges through weak permission enforcement mechanisms.