Canto <= 3.1.1 - Missing Authorization to Authenticated (Subscriber+) Arbitrary Setting Modification

The Canto plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Missing Authorization in versions up to and including 3.1.1. This is due to the absence of any capability check or nonce verification in the updateOptions() function, which is exposed via two AJAX hooks: wp_ajax_updateOptions (class-canto.php line 231) and wp_ajax_fbc_updateOptions (class-canto-settings.php line 76). Both hooks are registered exclusively under the wp_ajax_ prefix (requiring only a logged-in user), with no call to current_user_can() or check_ajax_referer(). This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with subscriber-level access and above to arbitrarily modify or delete plugin options controlling cron scheduling behavior (fbc_duplicates, fbc_cron, fbc_schedule, fbc_cron_time_day, fbc_cron_time_hour, fbc_cron_start) and to manipulate or clear the plugin's scheduled WordPress cron event (fbc_scheduled_update).

Because it turns on account access, WordSec's login security is the relevant layer: role-based two-factor, captcha and brute-force limits raise the cost of getting the account this needs. None of that substitutes for the fix: Canto 3.1.2 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.

• Login Security
• Alerts