CVE-2024-52442 in UserPlus Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/20/2024
Incorrect Privilege Assignment vulnerability in Userplus UserPlus allows Privilege Escalation.This issue affects UserPlus: from n/a through 2.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-52442 represents a critical privilege assignment flaw within the Userplus UserPlus software system that enables unauthorized privilege escalation. This issue exists in versions ranging from the initial release through version 2.0, indicating a persistent weakness that has not been adequately addressed in the software lifecycle. The vulnerability falls under the category of incorrect privilege assignment as defined by the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, specifically mapping to CWE-276 which deals with incorrect privilege assignment. The software's access control mechanisms fail to properly validate or enforce privilege levels, creating a pathway for malicious actors to elevate their privileges beyond what should be permitted.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user permissions and access controls within the application's authentication and authorization framework. When users interact with the system, the privilege assignment logic does not properly verify whether the requesting entity has legitimate authority to assume higher privileges. This flaw likely manifests through improper handling of privilege tokens, session management issues, or inadequate access control lists that allow users to manipulate their permission levels through direct input manipulation or by exploiting existing user sessions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the core of the system's security model, undermining fundamental access control principles that should prevent unauthorized elevation of privileges.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on Userplus UserPlus for user management and access control. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain elevated privileges that would normally be restricted to administrators or privileged users, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The privilege escalation could enable unauthorized data access, modification of user accounts, creation of new administrative users, or even system-wide manipulation of the application's core functionality. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and could facilitate lateral movement within networks where the application is deployed. The impact extends beyond immediate system compromise to include potential data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage that organizations may face due to inadequate privilege controls.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust access control validation mechanisms throughout the application's privilege assignment processes. Organizations should immediately apply any available patches or updates from the vendor that address the privilege assignment flaw, while also implementing additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication, enhanced session management, and regular privilege audits. The remediation process should include comprehensive code review of all privilege assignment logic, implementation of proper input validation, and establishment of automated privilege monitoring systems. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and principle of least privilege enforcement to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's presence in versions through 2.0 suggests that organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their Userplus UserPlus deployments and consider alternative solutions if patches are not available or sufficient to address the underlying privilege assignment issues. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation, making it particularly relevant for organizations implementing threat detection and response strategies that focus on unauthorized privilege elevation attempts.