CVE-2024-37444

Defender Security <= 4.7.2 - Missing Authorization

2024-06-28 00:00

Strategic Overview

Status: Patched in 4.7.3
Affected Plugin: Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall
Affected Version: <= 4.7.2
CVSS: 5.3Medium
Weakness type: CWE-862 · Missing Authorization
CVE: CVE-2024-37444

View all Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall vulnerabilities

At a glance

CVE-2024-37444 is a medium-severity Missing Authorization vulnerability in the Defender Security WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 4.7.2. It carries a CVSS score of 5.3 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity). Exploitation requires no authentication. The issue is fixed in version 4.7.3; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed June 2024, reported by Rafie Muhammad.

Vulnerability Overview

The Defender Security plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capability check on the clear_config_transient() function in versions up to, and including, 4.7.2. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to clear config data.

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 privileges on the target site, and no interaction from a victim user.

CWE-862: Missing Authorization

Defender Security <= 4.7.2 carries this weakness at clear_config_transient(), and reaching it takes a caller who can reach the endpoint. A missing authorization check means a function is reachable by anyone who can reach the endpoint, because the code never asks whether the caller is allowed to perform the action.

Any user who can reach the endpoint gets to run an action reserved for higher-privileged roles, from reading protected data to changing settings or content. For Defender Security the fix is 4.7.3: builds <= 4.7.2 are affected, anything from 4.7.3 onward is not.

Remediation

Update to version 4.7.3, 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: Defender Security 4.7.3 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.

Login Security
Alerts

External References

https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-37444 https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/26963b32-db2c-430b-99e5-65a2cc7d478d https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-37444

Related records

Other vulnerabilities in Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall

CVSS Vector

5.3

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N

Base

Attack VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges RequiredNone
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
ConfidentialityNone
IntegrityLow
AvailabilityNone

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