CVE-2024-5997 in Duplica Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/19/2024
The Duplica – Duplicate Posts, Pages, Custom Posts or Users plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capability check on the duplicate_user and duplicate_post functions in all versions up to, and including, 0.6. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to create duplicates of users and posts/pages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-5997 affects the Duplica plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions up to and including 0.6. This security flaw represents a critical authorization bypass issue that undermines the integrity of user and content management within WordPress installations. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper capability checks within the plugin's core functionality, creating a pathway for unauthorized data manipulation that directly impacts the platform's access control mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the duplicate_user and duplicate_post functions within the Duplica plugin codebase. These functions lack essential capability validation checks that should verify whether the authenticated user possesses sufficient privileges to perform duplication operations. The missing authorization controls create a scenario where users with Subscriber-level access or higher can exploit this functionality to create copies of posts, pages, and user accounts without proper administrative oversight. This flaw operates at the application logic level, fundamentally compromising the WordPress permission model and user access controls.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to WordPress administrators and content managers who rely on proper access controls to maintain data integrity and security. Attackers with minimal privileges can leverage this vulnerability to create duplicate user accounts, potentially leading to privilege escalation scenarios or account manipulation. Additionally, the ability to duplicate posts and pages allows for unauthorized content modification, data injection, and potential disruption of content management workflows. The impact extends beyond simple data duplication, as it enables attackers to circumvent normal security controls that should prevent such operations from being performed by unauthorized personnel.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers valid accounts with unauthorized access. Organizations running affected WordPress installations face potential data integrity breaches, unauthorized content modification, and possible escalation to higher privilege levels. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability affects authenticated users, meaning that even low-privilege accounts can exploit the flaw to gain unauthorized capabilities within the WordPress environment.
Effective mitigation strategies include immediate plugin updates to versions that address the missing capability checks, implementing additional access controls through WordPress security plugins, and conducting thorough security audits of all installed plugins. Administrators should also consider implementing role-based access controls that limit the ability of low-privilege users to perform duplication operations. Regular security monitoring and vulnerability scanning of WordPress installations can help identify similar authorization bypass issues in other plugins or themes, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar threats. The remediation process should prioritize immediate patching of the affected plugin while implementing additional security layers to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the broader WordPress ecosystem.