CVE-2021-38312

Gutenberg Template Library & Redux Framework <= 4.2.1 - Incorrect Authorization Leading to Arbitrary Plugin Installation and Post Deletion

2021-09-01 00:00
Ram

Strategic Overview

Status
Patched in 4.2.13
Affected Plugin
Redux Framework
Affected Version
<= 4.2.12
CVSS
7.1High
Weakness type
CWE-863 · Incorrect Authorization
CVE
CVE-2021-38312
View all Redux Framework vulnerabilities

At a glance

CVE-2021-38312 is a high-severity Incorrect Authorization vulnerability in the Redux Framework WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 4.2.12. It carries a CVSS score of 7.1 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity; high integrity impact). The issue is fixed in version 4.2.13; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed September 2021, reported by Ram.

Vulnerability Overview

The Gutenberg Template Library & Redux Framework plugin <= 4.2.12 for WordPress used an incorrect authorization check in the REST API endpoints registered under the “redux/v1/templates/” REST Route in “redux-templates/classes/class-api.php”. The `permissions_callback` used in this file only checked for the `edit_posts` capability which is granted to lower-privileged users such as contributors, allowing such users to install arbitrary plugins from the WordPress repository and edit 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. A successful exploit has high impact on integrity.

CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization

Reaching this weakness in Redux Framework <= 4.2.12 takes a caller who can reach the endpoint. Incorrect authorization means a permission check exists but evaluates the wrong thing, so it passes for callers it was meant to stop.

The action runs for users the code intended to exclude, with the same effect as having no check at all. For Redux Framework the fix is 4.2.13: builds <= 4.2.12 are affected, anything from 4.2.13 onward is not.

Remediation

Update to version 4.2.13, 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: Redux Framework 4.2.13 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.

  • Login Security
  • Alerts

External References

https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-38312https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/2ba556d0-48f9-4953-a5aa-876284e56360https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-38312

Related records

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