CVE-2024-7429 in Zotpress Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/05/2024
The Zotpress plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capability check on the Zotpress_process_accounts_AJAX function in all versions up to, and including, 7.3.12. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Contributor-level access and above, to reset the plugin's settings.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2026
The vulnerability in the Zotpress plugin for WordPress represents a critical authorization flaw that undermines the integrity of the plugin's configuration management system. This issue stems from a missing capability check within the Zotpress_process_accounts_AJAX function, which is a core component responsible for processing administrative actions through asynchronous javascript requests. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 7.3.12, creating a persistent security risk that has remained unaddressed for an extended period within the plugin's codebase. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's settings reset functionality, which should only be accessible to users with appropriate administrative privileges but is instead available to any authenticated user with contributor-level access or higher.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic insufficient authorization check pattern that directly violates established security principles. When an authenticated user with contributor-level privileges accesses the Zotpress_process_accounts_AJAX endpoint, the system fails to verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary administrative capabilities required to modify plugin settings. This missing validation creates an unauthorized modification vector that allows attackers to manipulate the plugin's configuration parameters through legitimate AJAX requests. The flaw operates at the application logic level, where the security boundary between different user roles is improperly enforced, enabling privilege escalation through the exploitation of a single missing access control check.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WordPress installations that rely on the Zotpress plugin for managing bibliographic references and academic resources. An attacker with contributor-level access can reset the plugin's settings to default values, potentially disrupting existing configurations, losing important bibliographic data, or reverting customizations that may have taken considerable time to implement. This unauthorized modification capability extends beyond simple configuration resets, as it could be leveraged to disable critical plugin functionality or establish persistent access points through modified settings. The impact is particularly concerning in environments where multiple users have contributor-level access, as it provides a pathway for malicious actors to compromise the plugin's integrity and potentially affect the broader WordPress installation's security posture.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-863, which specifically addresses "Incorrect Authorization" issues where the system fails to properly verify that the requesting user has sufficient privileges to perform a requested action. This weakness creates a direct pathway for privilege escalation and unauthorized data modification that violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper access control enforcement. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique under T1078, where adversaries leverage existing user accounts to gain elevated permissions. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including plugin version updates to the latest secure release, restriction of contributor-level user permissions where possible, and monitoring for unauthorized configuration changes. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing network-level controls and regular security audits to detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while ensuring that all users with contributor-level access undergo proper security training to minimize the risk of accidental or intentional misuse of their privileges.