Mapster WP Maps <= 1.5.0 - Incorrect Authorization to Authenticated (Contributor+) Arbitrary Options Update
Strategic Overview
- Status
- Patched in 1.6.0
- Affected Plugin
- Mapster WP Maps
- Affected Version
<= 1.5.0- CVSS
- 8.8High
- Weakness type
- CWE-285 · Improper Authorization
- CVE
CVE-2024-9235
At a glance
CVE-2024-9235 is a high-severity Improper Authorization vulnerability in the Mapster WP Maps WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 1.5.0. It carries a CVSS score of 8.8 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity; high confidentiality, integrity, availability impact). Exploitation requires an authenticated account at Contributor level or above. The issue is fixed in version 1.6.0; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed October 2024, reported by Sean Murphy.
Vulnerability Overview
The Mapster WP Maps plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data that can lead to privilege escalation due to an insufficient capability check on the mapster_wp_maps_set_option_from_js() function in all versions up to, and including, 1.5.0. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with contributor-level access and above, to update arbitrary options on the WordPress site. This can be leveraged to update the default role for registration to administrator and enable user registration for attackers to gain administrative user access to a vulnerable site.
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. A successful exploit has high impact on confidentiality, integrity, availability — full site compromise territory.
CWE-285: Improper Authorization
Mapster WP Maps <= 1.5.0 carries this weakness at mapster_wp_maps_set_option_from_js(), and reaching it takes an account at Contributor level or above. Improper authorization means a permission check exists but does not cover the case being exercised, so a caller who is allowed to do one thing is allowed to do a neighbouring thing as well.
A lower-privileged account performs an action reserved for a higher one, which on a multi-author or membership site means an ordinary user reaching administrative behaviour. For Mapster WP Maps the fix is 1.6.0: builds <= 1.5.0 are affected, anything from 1.6.0 onward is not.
Remediation
Update to version 1.6.0, 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: Mapster WP Maps 1.6.0 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.
- Login Security
- Alerts
External References
Related records
Other vulnerabilities in Mapster WP Maps
- 6.4CVE-2025-9044: Mapster WP Maps <= 1.20.0 Stored Cross-Site Scripting
CVE-2025-9044 - 6.4CVE-2024-10592: Mapster WP Maps <= 1.6.0 Stored Cross-Site Scripting
CVE-2024-10592 - 6.4CVE-2024-21744: Mapster WP Maps <= 1.2.38 Stored Cross-Site Scripting
CVE-2024-21744 - 6.1CVE-2024-13362: Freemius <= 2.10.1 Reflected DOM-Based XSS
CVE-2024-13362 - 5.3CVE-2026-14839: Mapster WP Maps < 1.24.0 Information Exposure
CVE-2026-14839
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