CVE-2024-9195

Remediation/Mitigation Strategy for CVE-2024-9195 - WHMPress Plugin Vulnerability

1. Vulnerability Description:

  • Vulnerability Name: CVE-2024-9195 - Unauthorized Data Modification and Privilege Escalation
  • Affected Software: WHMPress - WHMCS Client Area plugin for WordPress
  • Affected Versions: All versions up to and including 4.3-revision-3
  • Location: /admin/ajax.php (specifically the update_settings case)
  • Description: The plugin is vulnerable to unauthorized data modification due to a missing capability check. Authenticated attackers (Subscriber level and above) can update arbitrary WordPress options. This vulnerability allows an attacker to modify crucial settings such as:
    • Changing the default user role for new registrations to “Administrator”.
    • Enabling user registration if it is disabled.
  • Impact: By exploiting this vulnerability, an attacker can create a new user with administrator privileges, effectively gaining full control of the WordPress website.

2. Severity:

  • CVSS Score: 8.8 (High)
  • CVSS Vector: AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H (Based on the CVSS details provided. Note that AV:N is Network, AC:L is Low, PR:L is Low, UI:N is None, S:U is Unchanged, C:H is High, I:H is High, A:H is High)
  • Severity Level: High

3. Known Exploits:

  • The description explicitly outlines a well-defined exploitation method:
    1. The attacker registers as a Subscriber (or utilizes an existing Subscriber account).
    2. The attacker exploits the update_settings case within /admin/ajax.php without proper capability checks.
    3. The attacker updates the WordPress default_role option to ‘administrator’.
    4. The attacker enables user registration (if necessary) by updating the appropriate option (e.g., users_can_register to 1).
    5. The attacker registers a new account. This new account automatically receives administrator privileges.
    6. The attacker logs in with the newly created administrator account and has full control over the website.

4. Remediation/Mitigation Strategy:

  • Immediate Action:
    • Upgrade the WHMPress plugin: The most important step is to immediately upgrade the WHMPress plugin to the latest version. Versions after 4.3-revision-3 should contain a patch addressing this vulnerability. Verify the upgrade notes or changelog to confirm the fix.
  • Detection and Monitoring:
    • Monitor User Registrations: Closely monitor new user registrations. Look for any unexpected administrator accounts being created.
    • Review User Roles: Regularly audit existing user roles, especially checking if any Subscriber accounts have unexpectedly been elevated to Administrator.
    • Log Analysis: Review WordPress and web server logs for suspicious activity, specifically POST requests to /admin/ajax.php with action=update_settings. Look for evidence of unauthorized option changes.
    • Wordfence Monitoring: Use Wordfence’s scanning capabilities to identify vulnerable installations of the WHMPress plugin. (This is a given, since the alert came from Wordfence, but reiterate it.) Keep Wordfence updated with the latest rules.
  • Prevention:
    • Principle of Least Privilege: Review and enforce the principle of least privilege. Ensure users only have the minimum necessary permissions. Avoid granting Subscriber access unless absolutely required.
    • Web Application Firewall (WAF): Implement a WAF (e.g., Wordfence’s firewall) to block malicious requests. Ensure the WAF rules are up-to-date to protect against this specific exploit (if available).
    • Disable User Registration: If user registration is not required, disable it entirely. If it is required, implement strong registration controls (e.g., CAPTCHA, email verification).
    • Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits of your WordPress website and its plugins to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.
    • Plugin Management: Only install plugins from reputable sources. Keep all plugins updated and remove any unused plugins.
  • Response (If Compromised):
    • Isolate the System: If you suspect your website has been compromised, isolate it from the network to prevent further damage.
    • Identify the Attack Vector: Investigate the logs to determine how the attacker gained access.
    • Remove Malicious Users: Remove any unauthorized administrator accounts.
    • Reset Passwords: Reset passwords for all user accounts, especially administrator accounts.
    • Restore from Backup: Restore your website from a clean backup that was created before the compromise. Ensure the backup is free of the vulnerable WHMPress plugin version.
    • Malware Scan: Run a full malware scan to identify and remove any malicious code.
    • Patch and Harden: After restoring your website, immediately update the WHMPress plugin and implement the preventative measures outlined above.

5. Timeline:

  • Immediate (within 24 hours): Upgrade the WHMPress plugin. Monitor user registrations and review user roles.
  • Short-Term (within 1 week): Implement WAF rules, disable user registration (if not required), and conduct a security audit.
  • Ongoing: Maintain regular security audits, plugin updates, and monitoring.

6. Responsible Parties:

  • Website Administrator: Responsible for applying the patch, monitoring for suspicious activity, and implementing preventative measures.
  • Security Team (if applicable): Responsible for conducting security audits and incident response.
  • Wordfence (or other security provider): Responsible for providing security updates and monitoring services.

Disclaimer: This remediation/mitigation strategy is based on the information provided and is intended as a general guideline. The specific steps required may vary depending on your specific environment and security requirements. It is recommended to consult with a security professional for tailored advice. Always test changes in a staging environment before applying them to a production website.

Assigner

Date

  • Published Date: 2025-02-28 08:23:19
  • Updated Date: 2025-02-28 09:15:12

More Details

CVE-2024-9195