CVE-2024-13776

Remediation/Mitigation Strategy for CVE-2024-13776

Vulnerability Description:

The “ZoomSounds - WordPress Wave Audio Player with Playlist” plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data via the dzsap_delete_notice AJAX action. This occurs due to a missing capability check.
Authenticated attackers with Subscriber-level access (or higher) can update option values to ‘seen’.
This can be exploited to cause a denial of service (DoS) by manipulating options that trigger errors or by altering other critical settings.

Severity:

CVSS Score: 8.1 (High)
Impact: Denial of Service, Unauthorized Modification of Data
Accessibility: Exploitable by low-privileged authenticated users (Subscriber).

Known Exploit:

Attackers can send a crafted AJAX request to the dzsap_delete_notice action, modifying specific WordPress options.
By setting certain option values (like those related to registration) to true, attackers could potentially alter site functionality or expose unintended features.
Alternatively, manipulating specific options can introduce errors, rendering the site unusable (DoS).

Remediation/Mitigation Steps:

Immediate Action: Update the Plugin: Upgrade the “ZoomSounds - WordPress Wave Audio Player with Playlist” plugin to the latest version. Versions greater than 6.91 are expected to contain the fix for this vulnerability.
If Upgrade is Not Immediately Possible (Temporary Mitigation):
- Disable the Plugin: As a temporary measure, disable the plugin entirely until an update can be applied. This will prevent exploitation of the vulnerability.
- Restrict Subscriber Access: If possible, restrict Subscriber-level access to only absolutely necessary users and monitor their activity for any suspicious behavior. This is not a full solution but can reduce the attack surface.
Post-Update Verification:
- Monitor WordPress Logs: After updating the plugin, carefully monitor your WordPress logs for any unusual activity or errors related to the plugin.
- Security Audit: Conduct a security audit of your WordPress installation to identify any other potential vulnerabilities.

Long-Term Security Practices:

Regular Plugin Updates: Implement a process for regularly updating all WordPress plugins and themes.
Principle of Least Privilege: Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning user roles and capabilities in WordPress. Only grant users the minimum necessary permissions.
Web Application Firewall (WAF): Consider implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to detect and block malicious requests before they reach your WordPress site.
Security Scanning: Regularly scan your WordPress site for vulnerabilities using a reputable security scanner.