CVE-2024-37517

Spectra <= 2.13.7 - Missing Authorization via generate_ai_content

2024-07-05 00:00

Strategic Overview

Status: Patched in 2.13.8
Affected Plugin: Spectra Legacy – Gutenberg Blocks
Affected Version: <= 2.13.7
CVSS: 4.3Medium
Weakness type: CWE-862 · Missing Authorization
CVE: CVE-2024-37517

View all Spectra Legacy – Gutenberg Blocks vulnerabilities

At a glance

CVE-2024-37517 is a medium-severity Missing Authorization vulnerability in the Spectra Legacy WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 2.13.7. It carries a CVSS score of 4.3 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity). The root cause is a missing authorization check on a reachable function. The issue is fixed in version 2.13.8; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed July 2024, reported by Rafie Muhammad.

Vulnerability Overview

The Spectra plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to an insufficient capability check on the generate_ai_content() function in versions up to, and including, 2.13.7. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with contributor-level access and above, to generate AI content.

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-862: Missing Authorization

Spectra Legacy <= 2.13.7 carries this weakness at generate_ai_content(), 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 Spectra Legacy the fix is 2.13.8: builds <= 2.13.7 are affected, anything from 2.13.8 onward is not.

Remediation

Update to version 2.13.8, 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: Spectra Legacy 2.13.8 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.

Login Security
Alerts

External References

https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-37517 https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/eacfcc78-b4c3-46ba-a9d3-302fd207dd33 https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-37517

Related records

Same weakness class

Other vulnerabilities in Spectra Legacy – Gutenberg Blocks

CVSS Vector

4.3

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

Base

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

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