CVE-2024-5665 in Login Signup Popup Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/06/2024
The Login/Signup Popup ( Inline Form + Woocommerce ) plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized access of data due to a missing capability check on the ‘export_settings’ function in versions 2.7.1 to 2.7.2. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to read arbitrary options on affected sites.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2024
The vulnerability identified in CVE-2024-5665 affects the Login/Signup Popup plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions 2.7.1 through 2.7.2. This issue represents a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security model of the affected plugin by failing to implement proper capability checks. The vulnerability resides within the 'export_settings' function which is designed to handle data export operations but lacks the necessary access controls to prevent unauthorized data retrieval. The flaw allows attackers who possess at least Subscriber-level privileges to access sensitive configuration data that should typically be restricted to administrators or users with higher privileges. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor implementation of access control mechanisms within the plugin's codebase.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the absence of capability validation within the export_settings function, which should verify that the requesting user possesses appropriate permissions before allowing data export operations. According to CWE-284, this vulnerability maps directly to improper access control issues where insufficient checks allow unauthorized users to perform privileged operations. The flaw enables authenticated attackers to retrieve arbitrary WordPress options, potentially exposing sensitive configuration details, user credentials, or system settings that could aid in further exploitation attempts. Attackers can leverage this weakness to gather intelligence about the target system, identify potential attack vectors, or extract configuration data that may reveal system architecture details or security misconfigurations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it provides attackers with information that could facilitate more sophisticated attacks within the WordPress environment. Subscribers with access to the export_settings function can potentially discover database connection details, API keys, or other sensitive configuration parameters that could be used for privilege escalation or lateral movement within the application. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213, which involves data from information repositories, as attackers can systematically extract configuration data that may reveal system weaknesses or provide insights into other potential vulnerabilities. The exposure of arbitrary options could include plugin-specific settings, user role configurations, or other administrative data that might reveal the underlying architecture of the WordPress installation.
Organizations running affected versions of the Login/Signup Popup plugin face significant risk from this vulnerability, particularly in environments where subscriber accounts are accessible to untrusted users or where the plugin is deployed with insufficient user access controls. The vulnerability requires only authenticated access with Subscriber-level privileges, making it relatively easy to exploit in environments where user registration is open or where attackers can obtain legitimate subscriber accounts. Mitigation strategies should include immediate upgrade to the patched version of the plugin, implementation of role-based access controls, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, administrators should conduct thorough security audits of all plugins to identify similar capability check failures, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of implementing proper access control validation throughout all plugin functions. The incident underscores the critical need for security reviews of WordPress plugins and adherence to security best practices such as those outlined in the WordPress Plugin Security Guidelines and the OWASP Top Ten Project standards for web application security.