CVE-2024-5076 in wp-eMember Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/13/2024
The wp-eMember WordPress plugin before 10.6.6 does not have CSRF checks in some places, which could allow attackers to make logged in users perform unwanted actions via CSRF attacks
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/18/2025
The wp-eMember WordPress plugin vulnerability CVE-2024-5076 represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of user sessions and administrative controls within WordPress environments. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 10.6.6 and stems from the absence of proper Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) protection mechanisms in certain administrative interfaces. The flaw allows malicious actors to exploit the lack of anti-CSRF tokens, potentially enabling unauthorized actions to be performed on behalf of authenticated users who are logged into the WordPress administration area.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the plugin level where the wp-eMember component fails to validate the authenticity of requests originating from the user's browser session. Without CSRF tokens embedded in forms or API endpoints, attackers can craft malicious requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress backend system. This weakness creates a pathway for attackers to manipulate user accounts, modify content, or perform administrative functions without proper authorization. The vulnerability falls under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts and T1566.001 for Phishing, as it enables attackers to leverage authenticated sessions for unauthorized actions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can lead to complete compromise of WordPress installations where wp-eMember is deployed. Attackers can leverage this flaw to modify user permissions, inject malicious content, or even delete important data through seemingly legitimate administrative functions. The vulnerability particularly affects sites where multiple users have administrative privileges, as the attacker only needs to convince one user to visit a malicious page while authenticated. This creates a significant risk for business-critical WordPress installations, especially those handling sensitive user data or serving as content management platforms for organizations with substantial digital footprints.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to wp-eMember version 10.6.6 or later, which includes proper CSRF protection mechanisms. The fix typically involves implementing anti-CSRF tokens in all administrative forms and API endpoints, ensuring that requests are validated against the user's session state. Additional mitigations include implementing web application firewalls to detect suspicious request patterns, monitoring for unauthorized administrative activities, and conducting regular security audits of WordPress plugins. Security teams should also consider implementing user session management policies that enforce regular authentication refreshes and monitor for unusual administrative activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of CSRF protection in web applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of third-party plugins in WordPress environments.