Privilege Escalation in Post Grid and Gutenberg Blocks Plugin for WordPress

CVE-2024-9636

What is CVE-2024-9636?

CVE-2024-9636 is a privilege escalation vulnerability affecting the Post Grid and Gutenberg Blocks plugin for WordPress, developed by Pickplugins. This plugin is designed to enhance the functionality of WordPress sites by providing features for creating and managing content grids. However, the vulnerability arises due to inadequate restrictions on user meta data during the profile registration process. As a result, unauthenticated attackers can exploit this flaw to register as administrators on affected sites, posing significant security risks for organizations using this plugin.

Technical Details

The vulnerability is present in versions 2.2.85 to 2.3.3 of the Post Grid and Gutenberg Blocks plugin. It stems from improper validation mechanisms that fail to restrict what user meta can be modified when a new profile is created. This oversight allows an attacker, without needing authentication, to manipulate user roles and assign themselves administrative privileges. Such exploits require attackers to simply interact with the registration process, making it fairly accessible if the vulnerability is not addressed.

Potential impact of CVE-2024-9636

1. Unauthorized Administrative Access: Attackers can gain administrative control over WordPress sites, allowing them to manipulate site content, settings, and user permissions, potentially leading to further exploitations or data loss.

2. Data Breaches: With administrative access, malicious actors can access sensitive data stored within the site, leading to potential data breaches that could compromise user information, financial details, and other confidential materials.

3. Malware Distribution: Compromised WordPress sites can be used to deploy malware or phishing campaigns, putting the site's visitors at risk and damaging the organization's reputation, trust, and operational integrity.

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