CVE-2024-5615 in Open Graph Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/06/2024
The Open Graph plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Sensitive Information Exposure in all versions up to, and including, 1.11.2 via the 'opengraph_default_description' function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to extract sensitive data including partial content of password-protected blog posts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-5615 affects the Open Graph plugin for WordPress, a widely used tool for generating social media meta tags that control how content appears when shared on platforms like Facebook and Twitter. This particular flaw exists in all versions up to and including 1.11.2, representing a significant security weakness that undermines the confidentiality of sensitive data within WordPress environments. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of content access controls within the plugin's implementation, specifically in the 'opengraph_default_description' function which is responsible for generating default descriptions for social media sharing.
The technical flaw manifests when the plugin fails to properly verify user permissions before exposing content metadata. When WordPress encounters password-protected posts, the standard security mechanisms should prevent unauthorized access to the actual post content. However, the Open Graph plugin's 'opengraph_default_description' function does not adequately check whether the requesting user has proper authorization to view the content. This oversight allows unauthenticated attackers to extract partial content from password-protected blog posts through the plugin's social media description generation mechanism. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited without requiring any authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by anyone with access to the affected WordPress site.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and content confidentiality. Attackers can potentially harvest sensitive information from password-protected posts, which may include confidential business information, personal details, proprietary content, or strategic communications. This exposure could lead to competitive disadvantages, regulatory compliance violations, and potential legal consequences depending on the nature of the disclosed information. The vulnerability affects all WordPress installations using the affected plugin version, creating a widespread risk across numerous websites and organizations that rely on WordPress for their digital presence.
Security practitioners should immediately update the Open Graph plugin to the latest available version to remediate this vulnerability, as no official patches were mentioned in the CVE description. Organizations should also implement network-level monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider temporary mitigation measures such as restricting access to the plugin's functionality through web application firewalls. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which covers "Information Exposure," and represents a specific implementation weakness in access control validation that could be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering. Regular security audits should be conducted to ensure all WordPress plugins are updated to their latest secure versions, and automated vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar access control flaws across the entire web application infrastructure.