Custom Content Shortcode <= 3.8.8 - Unauthorised Arbitrary Post Metadata Access
Strategic Overview
- Status
- Patched in 4.0.1
- Affected Plugin
- Custom Content Shortcode
- Affected Version
<= 3.8.8- CVSS
- 4.3Medium
- Weakness type
- CWE-284 · Improper Access Control
- CVE
CVE-2021-24824
At a glance
CVE-2021-24824 is a medium-severity Improper Access Control vulnerability in the Custom Content Shortcode WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 3.8.8. It carries a CVSS score of 4.3 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity). The issue is fixed in version 4.0.1; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed February 2022, reported by Francesco Carlucci.
Vulnerability Overview
The [field] shortcode included with the Custom Content Shortcode WordPress plugin before 4.0.1, allows authenticated users with a role as low as contributor, to access arbitrary post metadata. This could lead to sensitive data disclosure, for example when used in combination with WooCommerce, the email address of orders can be retrieved
Technical Analysis
The vector marks this flaw as remotely reachable over the network, with low attack complexity — no special timing or configuration is needed, and no interaction from a victim user.
CWE-284: Improper Access Control
Reaching this weakness in Custom Content Shortcode <= 3.8.8 takes a caller who can reach the endpoint. Improper access control means the code decides what a caller may do using something other than their actual permissions, so the decision can be wrong without any check appearing to be missing.
Whoever can shape the request decides the answer, so the protected action runs for callers the code never meant to allow. For Custom Content Shortcode the fix is 4.0.1: builds <= 3.8.8 are affected, anything from 4.0.1 onward is not.
Remediation
Update to version 4.0.1, or a newer patched version
How does WordSec protect against this?
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: Custom Content Shortcode 4.0.1 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.
- Login Security
- Alerts
External References
Related records
Same weakness class
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