CVE-2024-8427 in Frontend Post Submission Manager Lite Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/06/2024
The Frontend Post Submission Manager Lite – Frontend Posting WordPress Plugin plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capability check on the save_global_settings and process_form_edit functions in all versions up to, and including, 1.2.2. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to update the plugin's settings and forms.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-8427 affects the Frontend Post Submission Manager Lite WordPress plugin, specifically targeting versions up to and including 1.2.2. This represents a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security posture of WordPress installations relying on this plugin. The vulnerability stems from insufficient capability verification within the plugin's core functionality, creating an exploitable condition that allows attackers with minimal privileges to manipulate critical system configurations.
The technical flaw manifests in two primary functions: save_global_settings and process_form_edit, which lack proper capability checks to verify user permissions before executing modification operations. This absence of authorization validation creates a path for authenticated attackers who possess Subscriber-level access or higher to bypass normal security controls. The vulnerability operates under the principle of insufficient authorization checks, which is classified as CWE-863, and represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege in security design. Attackers can leverage this weakness to modify plugin settings and form configurations, potentially leading to data integrity compromise and system manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data modification, as it enables attackers to alter the plugin's core functionality and potentially disrupt content management workflows. Subscribers with access to the WordPress admin area can exploit this flaw to change global plugin settings, modify form configurations, and potentially redirect form submissions to malicious endpoints. This capability allows for persistent manipulation of the frontend posting system, creating opportunities for data exfiltration, content injection, or the establishment of backdoors within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability's impact aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers valid accounts used for persistence, and T1566.002, which involves spearphishing with links, as attackers can manipulate form submissions to achieve their objectives.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-8427 require immediate action to address the authorization gap within the plugin. The most effective solution involves upgrading to the latest plugin version where the capability checks have been properly implemented. Administrators should also conduct thorough access reviews to ensure that only trusted users maintain Subscriber-level privileges or higher. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual modifications to plugin settings, and regular security audits should verify the integrity of plugin configurations. Additionally, implementing role-based access controls and reducing unnecessary user permissions can minimize the attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper capability validation in web applications, as highlighted in the OWASP Top Ten 2021 under A07:2021 - Identification and Authentication Failures, where inadequate access control mechanisms can lead to unauthorized data modification and system compromise.