CVE-2024-6397 in InstaWP Connect Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/11/2024
The InstaWP Connect – 1-click WP Staging & Migration plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to authentication bypass in all versions up to, and including, 0.1.0.44. This is due to insufficient verification of the API key. 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 username, and to perform a variety of other administrative tasks. NOTE: This vulnerability was partially fixed in 0.1.0.44, but was still exploitable via Cross-Site Request Forgery.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2024
The InstaWP Connect plugin for WordPress presents a critical authentication bypass vulnerability that affects versions up to and including 0.1.0.44. This vulnerability stems from inadequate API key verification mechanisms within the plugin's authentication system, creating a significant security gap that allows unauthorized actors to gain administrative privileges. The flaw specifically targets the plugin's handling of API keys, which should normally serve as a secure authentication mechanism but instead fails to properly validate the credentials provided by users attempting to access the system. This weakness enables attackers to exploit the system's trust model and assume the identity of legitimate users, particularly administrators, when they possess knowledge of valid usernames within the WordPress installation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the plugin's insufficient validation of API key authenticity, which creates a pathway for attackers to manipulate the authentication flow. When users attempt to authenticate through the plugin's API endpoints, the system fails to properly verify the legitimacy of the provided API keys, allowing forged authentication requests to succeed. This authentication bypass occurs because the plugin does not implement proper cryptographic verification or session management controls that would normally prevent unauthorized access. The vulnerability essentially allows an attacker to construct malicious API requests that appear legitimate to the system, thereby circumventing the normal authentication process that should require valid credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with full administrative capabilities within the WordPress environment. Once authenticated as an administrator, an attacker can perform any action typically restricted to privileged users, including modifying content, installing malicious plugins, changing user permissions, accessing sensitive data, and potentially using the compromised system as a foothold for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability's exploitation via Cross-Site Request Forgery demonstrates that attackers can leverage this weakness even when they cannot directly control the victim's browser, making the threat more pervasive and difficult to defend against. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through social engineering attacks or by leveraging existing access to the target environment.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for phishing attacks that may lead to credential compromise. Organizations using affected versions of the InstaWP Connect plugin should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest available version, implementing network-level restrictions on API endpoints, and monitoring for suspicious authentication attempts. Additionally, administrators should review user permissions and consider implementing additional authentication layers such as two-factor authentication to reduce the impact of potential credential compromise. The partial fix implemented in version 0.1.0.44 demonstrates that the developers recognized the vulnerability but failed to completely address all attack vectors, particularly the CSRF component that still allows exploitation under certain conditions. This highlights the importance of comprehensive vulnerability assessment and the need for thorough testing of security fixes to ensure complete remediation of identified weaknesses.