CVE-2024-6690 in WP Content Copy Protection & No Right Click Pro Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/16/2025
The wccp-pro WordPress plugin before 15.3 contains an open-redirect flaw via the referrer parameter, allowing redirection of users to external sites
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2025
The CVE-2024-6690 vulnerability affects the wccp-pro WordPress plugin version 15.2 and earlier, presenting a critical open redirect flaw that exploits the referrer parameter to manipulate user navigation. This vulnerability falls under the category of insecure direct object reference and represents a significant security risk for WordPress installations using the affected plugin. The flaw enables attackers to craft malicious URLs that redirect users to external domains, potentially facilitating phishing attacks or malware distribution. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and sanitization of the referrer parameter, allowing arbitrary redirection targets to be specified without proper authorization checks. This issue directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten 2021, specifically addressing the insecure direct object reference category. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it leverages the WordPress plugin ecosystem where users trust the legitimacy of the installed software, making social engineering attacks more effective. Attackers can exploit this by crafting URLs with malicious referrer values that appear to originate from legitimate WordPress sites, thereby bypassing user security awareness and potentially gaining access to sensitive user information or credentials. The open redirect vulnerability creates an attack surface that can be exploited through various vectors including email campaigns, malicious advertisements, or compromised websites that redirect users through the vulnerable plugin.
The technical implementation of this flaw demonstrates a classic parameter manipulation issue where the plugin fails to validate or sanitize user-supplied input before using it for redirection purposes. The referrer parameter, when processed by the wccp-pro plugin, does not perform adequate checks to ensure that the target URL is within the expected domain or that it represents a legitimate redirection path. This lack of proper input validation creates a pathway for attackers to specify any URL as the redirect destination, effectively bypassing the plugin's intended security controls. The vulnerability can be classified as a CWE-601 Open Redirect vulnerability, which is categorized under the broader security weakness of insecure direct object reference in the CWE taxonomy. This flaw is particularly dangerous because it operates at the application level within the WordPress framework, where users are likely to trust the legitimacy of the site they are visiting. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple redirection as it can be chained with other attacks such as cross-site scripting or credential harvesting, creating a more sophisticated attack vector. The attack pattern aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique T1566 Phishing, where attackers leverage legitimate-looking URLs to trick users into visiting malicious sites. The flaw essentially allows attackers to create a false sense of security for users while redirecting them to malicious destinations, exploiting the trust users place in their browsing environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-6690 extends beyond immediate redirection concerns to encompass broader security implications for WordPress installations and their users. Organizations using vulnerable versions of the wccp-pro plugin face potential data exfiltration, credential theft, and reputational damage when users are redirected to malicious sites. The vulnerability can be exploited in large-scale campaigns where attackers distribute malicious links through various channels, leveraging the trust associated with WordPress plugins to increase the success rate of phishing attempts. Users who visit compromised sites may unknowingly provide sensitive information to attackers, including login credentials, personal details, or financial information. The attack surface is particularly broad since WordPress plugins are widely used across different industries and organizations, making this vulnerability attractive to threat actors seeking to maximize their impact. Security teams must consider the potential for cascading effects where this vulnerability could be exploited as part of a larger attack chain, potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability also impacts user trust in the WordPress ecosystem, as users may become hesitant to engage with plugin-based features or installations. The remediation process requires immediate attention from system administrators who must update to the patched version 15.3 or implement temporary workarounds to prevent exploitation. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify any other potential vulnerabilities that may have been exploited through this redirect mechanism.
The recommended mitigations for CVE-2024-6690 focus on immediate patching of the affected plugin to version 15.3, which includes proper input validation and sanitization of the referrer parameter. System administrators should also implement network-level controls to monitor and block suspicious redirection patterns, particularly those involving external domains. Organizations should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the domains to which users can be redirected within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation in web applications, particularly when dealing with user-supplied parameters that influence application behavior. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments of WordPress plugins to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited. Additional defensive measures include monitoring for unusual redirection patterns in web server logs and implementing user education programs to raise awareness about phishing attempts that may exploit such vulnerabilities. The mitigation strategies should align with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, particularly focusing on the protective measures and detection capabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious redirection attempts. The vulnerability underscores the critical need for maintaining up-to-date security patches and the importance of monitoring plugin repositories for security advisories. Regular security audits of WordPress installations should include checks for vulnerable plugins and proper configuration of security controls to prevent exploitation of similar open redirect vulnerabilities.