CVE-2024-2538

Permalink Manager <= 2.4.3.1 - Missing Authorization to Authenticated(Author+) Arbitrary Post Slug Modification

2024-03-18 00:00
Muhammad Zeeshan (Xib3rR4dAr)

Strategic Overview

Status
Patched in 2.4.3.2
Affected Plugin
Permalink Manager Lite
Affected Version
<= 2.4.3.1
CVSS
5.4Medium
Weakness type
CWE-639 · Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key
CVE
CVE-2024-2538
View all Permalink Manager Lite vulnerabilities

At a glance

CVE-2024-2538 is a medium-severity Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key vulnerability in the Permalink Manager Lite WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 2.4.3.1. It carries a CVSS score of 5.4 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity). Exploitation requires an authenticated account at Author level or above. The issue is fixed in version 2.4.3.2; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed March 2024, reported by Muhammad Zeeshan (Xib3rR4dAr).

Vulnerability Overview

The Permalink Manager Lite plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capability check on the 'ajax_save_permalink' function in all versions up to, and including, 2.4.3.1. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with author access and above, to modify the permalinks of arbitrary posts.

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-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key

Permalink Manager Lite <= 2.4.3.1 carries this weakness at ajax_save_permalink, and reaching it takes an account at Author level or above. Authorization bypass through a user-controlled key, often called insecure direct object reference, means the application looks up a record by an identifier from the request without checking that the caller owns it.

Changing a number in the request is enough to read or modify other users' records, which on commerce and membership sites means customer data. For Permalink Manager Lite the fix is 2.4.3.2: builds <= 2.4.3.1 are affected, anything from 2.4.3.2 onward is not.

Remediation

Update to version 2.4.3.2, 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: Permalink Manager Lite 2.4.3.2 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.

  • Login Security
  • Alerts

External References

https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-2538https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/70cd028d-122d-4e3c-ac09-150dec07a2cdhttps://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-2538

Related records

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