CVE-2024-6175 in Booking Ultra Pro Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/18/2024
The Booking Ultra Pro Appointments Booking Calendar Plugin plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capability check on the multiple functions in all versions up to, and including, 1.1.13. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to modify and delete. multiple plugin options and data such as payments, pricing, booking information, business hours, calendars, profile information, and email templates.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-6175 affects the Booking Ultra Pro Appointments Booking Calendar Plugin for WordPress, representing a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security posture of affected systems. This issue stems from the absence of proper capability checks within multiple functions of the plugin, creating a pathway for unauthorized data manipulation that extends far beyond typical user expectations. The vulnerability specifically impacts all versions up to and including 1.1.13, making it a widespread concern for WordPress administrators who have deployed this particular plugin. The flaw fundamentally compromises the principle of least privilege by allowing users with minimal access levels to perform operations that should be restricted to administrators or privileged users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through the lack of capability validation mechanisms within the plugin's core functions, which are designed to handle sensitive business data including payment information, pricing structures, booking details, business hours, calendar configurations, user profiles, and email templates. When authenticated attackers with subscriber-level access or higher exploit this vulnerability, they can manipulate or delete critical operational data without proper authorization. This flaw operates at the application level and directly impacts the integrity and availability of business-critical information, as the plugin fails to verify whether the requesting user possesses sufficient privileges to execute the requested modifications. The absence of capability checks creates a persistent security gap that persists across all supported versions, indicating a fundamental design flaw in the plugin's access control implementation.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to businesses relying on the Booking Ultra Pro plugin for appointment management and customer service operations. Attackers with minimal user privileges can compromise payment records, alter pricing structures, modify booking schedules, and manipulate business hours, potentially causing financial losses and operational disruptions. The vulnerability also affects email template configurations, which could be exploited to conduct phishing attacks or manipulate communication flows between businesses and their customers. The scope of potential damage extends to profile information, which may contain sensitive personal data, and calendar configurations that are essential for business operations. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege that is fundamental to secure application design.
The exploitation of CVE-2024-6175 aligns with several techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to privilege escalation and persistence within web applications. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish a foothold within WordPress environments and potentially escalate their access to more sensitive system components. The impact of such vulnerabilities extends beyond immediate data manipulation to include potential secondary effects such as data exfiltration, service disruption, and reputational damage. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader threat landscape where initial access through seemingly minor flaws can lead to significant compromise. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security audits and the need for comprehensive access control mechanisms within WordPress plugins, as the flaw affects core business operations rather than merely cosmetic elements of the platform.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of the Booking Ultra Pro plugin where available, implementing additional access controls through WordPress security plugins, and conducting thorough security audits of all installed plugins. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of capability checks in web applications and serves as a reminder that even seemingly minor access control oversights can have significant operational implications. System administrators should also consider implementing network-level monitoring to detect unauthorized modifications to critical business data and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing such vulnerabilities. Regular vulnerability assessments of third-party plugins and themes should be integrated into organizational security practices to prevent similar issues from compromising business operations and customer data integrity.