CVE-2024-4958 in User Registration Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/01/2024
The User Registration – Custom Registration Form, Login Form, and User Profile WordPress Plugin plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capability check on the 'import_form_action' function in versions up to, and including, 3.2.0.1. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with contributor-level permissions and above, to import a registration form with a default user role of administrator. If an administrator approves or publishes a post or page with the shortcode to the imported form, any user can register as an administrator.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2024
The vulnerability identified in CVE-2024-4958 affects the User Registration – Custom Registration Form, Login Form, and User Profile WordPress Plugin, representing a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security model of WordPress installations. This issue stems from a missing capability check within the plugin's 'import_form_action' function, creating a pathway for privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 3.2.0.1, making it a widespread concern across numerous WordPress deployments that utilize this plugin for user management and registration processes.
The technical flaw manifests through an insufficient access control mechanism that fails to validate user permissions before executing the form import functionality. Specifically, authenticated attackers with contributor-level permissions or higher can exploit this weakness to manipulate the default user role assigned to imported registration forms. This missing capability check creates a direct vector for privilege escalation, as the attacker can effectively bypass WordPress's standard role-based access controls. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-284, which addresses insufficient access control, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege that governs secure system design.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data modification, as it enables full administrative privilege escalation within affected WordPress installations. When an administrator approves or publishes content containing the shortcode to the imported form, any registered user can exploit the vulnerability to register with administrative privileges. This creates a persistent backdoor that remains active until the plugin is updated or the vulnerable functionality is disabled. The attack chain typically involves an authenticated user with contributor permissions importing a malicious form configuration, followed by administrator approval of content that utilizes this form, thereby enabling arbitrary user registration with elevated privileges.
This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1078 for valid accounts and T1548 for abuse of privileges, as it allows attackers to escalate their privileges within the WordPress environment. The impact is particularly severe because it leverages the trust relationship between administrators and plugin functionality, making detection more challenging. Organizations using this plugin are at risk of complete system compromise, as attackers can gain full administrative control over WordPress installations. The vulnerability also creates potential for data exfiltration, content manipulation, and the establishment of persistent access points through user account manipulation.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate plugin updates to versions that address the missing capability check, while also implementing additional security measures such as role-based access restrictions and monitoring of form import activities. Administrators should consider disabling the vulnerable import functionality entirely if it is not essential to their operations. Network-level monitoring should be implemented to detect unusual form import patterns, and regular security audits should verify that no unauthorized administrative accounts have been created through this vulnerability. The remediation process must include comprehensive testing to ensure that the update does not break existing legitimate functionality while maintaining the integrity of the WordPress user management system.