CVE-2024-6180 in EventON Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/09/2024
The EventON plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capability check on the 'eventon_import_settings' ajax action in all versions up to, and including, 2.2.15. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to update plugin settings, including adding stored cross-site scripting to settings options displayed on event calendar pages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/10/2024
The EventON plugin for WordPress represents a widely used calendar management solution that enables users to create and display events on their websites. This particular vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 2.2.15, creating a significant security risk for WordPress installations that rely on this plugin for event scheduling and management. The flaw resides in the plugin's handling of administrative functions through its ajax interface, specifically targeting the 'eventon_import_settings' action that should require proper authentication and authorization to execute.
The core technical issue stems from a missing capability check within the plugin's ajax handler implementation. This absence allows any unauthenticated user to access the 'eventon_import_settings' endpoint and modify critical plugin configuration parameters. The vulnerability operates at the authorization level where proper access controls should prevent unauthorized modifications to system settings. According to CWE-863, this represents a "Incorrect Authorization" flaw that permits actions that should require elevated privileges to be executed by users without proper credentials or permissions. The missing capability check essentially removes the necessary authentication barrier that would normally require administrative access to modify plugin settings.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data modification to include potential cross-site scripting attacks. When attackers successfully update plugin settings, they can inject malicious javascript code into configuration options that are subsequently rendered on event calendar pages. This creates a persistent threat vector where visitors to the website could be exposed to malicious payloads each time they view calendar content. The stored XSS vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can affect all users who access the affected pages without requiring any additional interaction from them. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which involves the use of malicious content delivered through web applications to compromise user systems.
The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor authorization gaps can create significant security risks in web applications. Attackers can leverage this weakness to modify plugin behavior, potentially redirecting traffic, stealing user information, or creating backdoors within the WordPress installation. The fact that this vulnerability affects the import settings functionality suggests that it could be used to inject malicious configurations that might persist across plugin updates or system restarts. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation and access control can create persistent security weaknesses in content management systems. Organizations using EventON plugin versions prior to 2.2.16 should immediately implement mitigations including plugin updates, access restriction measures, and monitoring for unauthorized configuration changes to prevent potential exploitation of this vulnerability.