CVE-2024-6491 in Getwid Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/20/2024
The Getwid – Gutenberg Blocks plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capability check on the mailchimp_api_key_manage function in all versions up to, and including, 2.0.10. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Contributor-level access and above, to set the MailChimp API key.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-6491 affects the Getwid Gutenberg Blocks plugin for WordPress, representing a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security posture of affected installations. This issue stems from a deliberate omission in the plugin's codebase where proper capability checks are absent for the mailchimp_api_key_manage function. The vulnerability specifically impacts all versions of the plugin up to and including version 2.0.10, making it a widespread concern across numerous WordPress deployments that utilize this popular block plugin. The flaw exists within the plugin's permission architecture, creating an avenue for privilege escalation that directly compromises the integrity of MailChimp integration settings within WordPress environments.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the realm of insufficient authorization checks, which aligns with CWE-863, also known as "Insufficient Authorization." The vulnerability allows authenticated users with Contributor-level access or higher to manipulate MailChimp API keys without proper authorization. This represents a significant security gap because MailChimp API keys serve as critical credentials for accessing and managing email marketing campaigns, subscriber lists, and related data within the MailChimp platform. The absence of capability validation means that any user with Contributor permissions or above can potentially modify these keys, which could lead to unauthorized access to email marketing data, disruption of marketing campaigns, or even data exfiltration through compromised API integrations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for WordPress administrators and content creators who rely on the Getwid plugin for their website functionality. The impact extends beyond simple data modification, as MailChimp API keys are essential for maintaining email marketing operations, subscriber management, and automated campaign workflows. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could potentially replace legitimate API keys with malicious ones, leading to unauthorized access to customer data, disruption of email marketing services, or even the ability to send spam messages through compromised MailChimp accounts. The vulnerability also represents a potential attack vector for lateral movement within WordPress environments, as API keys often provide access to broader data sets and system functionalities beyond the immediate scope of the plugin.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1078 Valid Accounts and T1566 Phishing, as attackers could leverage compromised contributor accounts to escalate privileges and gain access to sensitive API credentials. The vulnerability also maps to T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1543 Create or Modify System Process, as malicious API keys could be used to establish persistent access to email marketing systems. Organizations should consider implementing immediate mitigations including plugin updates to versions that address this capability check deficiency, along with monitoring for unauthorized API key changes and reviewing user permissions to ensure that only trusted administrators have Contributor-level access or higher. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and capability checks in WordPress plugin development, as outlined in the WordPress Plugin Development Handbook's security guidelines.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate plugin version updates to address the missing capability check, while also implementing comprehensive monitoring for unauthorized changes to MailChimp API keys within WordPress environments. Administrators should conduct thorough permission reviews to ensure that Contributor-level accounts are appropriately restricted and that only trusted personnel have elevated privileges. The vulnerability also underscores the necessity of regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes, particularly those that handle external API integrations and sensitive data access. Organizations should consider implementing automated security scanning tools that can detect such authorization flaws in their WordPress installations, as well as establishing incident response procedures specifically designed to address compromised API key scenarios and unauthorized data modifications. The technical debt represented by this vulnerability highlights the critical importance of security reviews during the plugin development lifecycle and proper implementation of capability checks to prevent similar issues in future releases.