CVE-2024-6328 in MStore API Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/12/2024
The MStore API – Create Native Android & iOS Apps On The Cloud plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to authentication bypass in all versions up to, and including, 4.14.7. This is due to insufficient verification on the 'phone' parameter of the 'firebase_sms_login' and 'firebase_sms_login_v2' functions. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to log in as any existing user on the site, such as an administrator, if they have access to the email address or phone number. Additionally, if a new email address is supplied, a new user account is created with the default role, even if registration is disabled.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2024
The vulnerability identified in CVE-2024-6328 affects the MStore API plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions up to and including 4.14.7. This authentication bypass flaw resides within the firebase_sms_login and firebase_sms_login_v2 functions where the phone parameter undergoes inadequate validation. The weakness creates a critical security gap that allows unauthorized actors to exploit the authentication mechanism and gain access to user accounts without proper credentials. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the core authentication layer, potentially enabling attackers to escalate privileges and gain administrative control over affected WordPress installations.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from insufficient input validation and verification processes within the SMS-based authentication functions. The phone parameter validation is inadequate, allowing attackers to manipulate the authentication flow by supplying crafted phone numbers or email addresses. This vulnerability falls under CWE-287 which specifically addresses improper authentication issues in software systems. The flaw enables what cybersecurity analysts classify as a privilege escalation attack vector where unauthorized users can authenticate as legitimate users, including high-privilege accounts such as administrators. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and credential access methods that leverage legitimate authentication mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential full system compromise. Attackers who can guess or obtain email addresses or phone numbers of existing users can leverage this flaw to impersonate those accounts and execute actions with the privileges of the compromised user. When new email addresses are provided during the authentication process, the system creates new user accounts with default roles, even when registration is disabled, which represents an additional security weakness. This behavior creates a potential for account enumeration attacks and can be exploited to systematically identify valid user accounts within the system. The vulnerability effectively undermines the security model of the plugin by allowing attackers to bypass the intended authentication controls entirely.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-6328 require immediate action from system administrators to upgrade to the latest version of the MStore API plugin where this vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should implement additional security controls such as rate limiting on authentication endpoints to prevent automated exploitation attempts. Network-level protections including firewall rules and intrusion detection systems can help monitor for suspicious authentication patterns. The implementation of multi-factor authentication should be considered as a compensating control to reduce the impact of potential credential compromise. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all WordPress installations to identify other plugins or themes that may contain similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities. Regular security audits and patch management procedures should be strengthened to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future, particularly focusing on authentication mechanisms that handle sensitive user data.