CVE-2024-7622 in Revision Manager TMC Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/06/2024
The Revision Manager TMC plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized arbitrary email sending due to a missing capability check on the _a_ajaxQuickEmailTestCallback() function in all versions up to, and including, 2.8.19. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level access and above, to send emails with arbitrary content to any individual through the vulnerable web server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-7622 affects the Revision Manager TMC plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions up to and including 2.8.19. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of email communication within WordPress environments. The vulnerability stems from a fundamental lack of proper access control mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, creating an avenue for malicious actors to exploit the system's email functionality. The issue manifests through the _a_ajaxQuickEmailTestCallback() function which fails to implement adequate capability checks before processing email sending requests, thereby allowing unauthorized users to leverage this functionality for nefarious purposes.
The technical flaw resides in the absence of proper authentication and authorization verification within the plugin's email handling mechanism. When an authenticated user with subscriber-level privileges or higher accesses the vulnerable function, the system does not validate whether the user possesses the necessary permissions to send emails to arbitrary recipients. This missing capability check creates a direct path for privilege escalation and unauthorized communication within the WordPress ecosystem. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through standard web-based attack vectors, making it particularly dangerous as it requires minimal prerequisites for exploitation. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-285: Improper Authorization, which specifically addresses situations where systems fail to properly enforce access controls for protected resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple email spoofing or spamming activities. An attacker with subscriber-level access can leverage this flaw to send targeted phishing emails, conduct social engineering campaigns, or attempt to compromise other users through malicious content delivery. The ability to send arbitrary emails to any individual within the system creates multiple attack vectors including credential harvesting, malware distribution, and reputation damage to the affected WordPress installation. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on WordPress for content management and user interaction, as it essentially provides attackers with a backdoor communication channel that bypasses normal email security controls. The threat landscape is further complicated by the fact that this vulnerability does not require elevated privileges beyond standard subscriber access, making it accessible to a broad range of potential attackers.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations to protect their WordPress installations from exploitation. The primary recommendation involves updating to the latest version of the Revision Manager TMC plugin where the capability check has been implemented. However, in environments where immediate updates are not feasible, administrators should consider implementing additional security controls such as restricting access to the vulnerable endpoints through web application firewalls or implementing rate limiting for email sending functions. Network-level controls including monitoring for unusual email sending patterns and implementing email authentication mechanisms such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques related to privilege escalation and initial access through compromised accounts, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security monitoring and user access control policies. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and the implementation of proper input validation and access control mechanisms within third-party plugins.