CVE-2024-0970 is an authentication bypass vulnerability categorized under CWE-290, found in the User Activity Tracking and Log WordPress plugin prior to version 4.1.4. The plugin attempts to retrieve client IP addresses for logging and authentication purposes but does so by trusting potentially unverified HTTP headers such as X-Forwarded-For or similar. Attackers can manipulate these headers to spoof their IP address, causing the plugin to incorrectly identify the client’s origin. This flaw can be exploited remotely without authentication or user interaction, as the attacker simply crafts HTTP requests with spoofed headers. The consequence is an integrity compromise where the plugin’s logs and authentication mechanisms that depend on IP address validation can be bypassed or corrupted. Although the vulnerability does not directly expose sensitive data or cause denial of service, it undermines trust in user activity logs and may facilitate further attacks by hiding attacker identity or bypassing IP-based restrictions. The CVSS v3.1 score is 5.3 (medium), reflecting network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, and no user interaction. No public exploits are known at this time, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and should be addressed promptly. The lack of vendor information suggests the plugin may be less widely supported, increasing risk for users who do not update promptly.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to the integrity of security monitoring and authentication processes that rely on IP address validation. Attackers can spoof IP addresses to evade detection, bypass IP-based access controls, or corrupt audit trails, which can hinder incident response and forensic investigations. This is particularly concerning for sectors with strict compliance requirements such as finance, healthcare, and government, where accurate logging is critical. Although confidentiality and availability are not directly impacted, the ability to bypass authentication checks or evade logging can facilitate more severe attacks, including privilege escalation or data exfiltration. Organizations running WordPress sites with this plugin, especially those exposed to the internet, are at risk. Given the widespread use of WordPress across Europe, the vulnerability could affect a broad range of businesses, from SMEs to large enterprises. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers often develop exploits after public disclosure.

1. Immediately update the User Activity Tracking and Log WordPress plugin to version 4.1.4 or later, where the vulnerability is fixed. 2. If updating is not immediately possible, implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block or sanitize suspicious HTTP headers such as X-Forwarded-For, X-Real-IP, or other client IP headers that can be manipulated. 3. Avoid relying solely on client-supplied IP addresses for authentication or security decisions; instead, use server-side network information or trusted proxy headers configured securely. 4. Enhance logging mechanisms to include multiple factors for client identification, such as session tokens or user agent strings, to detect anomalies. 5. Conduct regular audits of user activity logs to identify suspicious patterns indicative of IP spoofing or log tampering. 6. Educate security teams about this vulnerability to improve monitoring and incident response readiness. 7. Review and harden WordPress security configurations and ensure plugins are sourced from reputable developers with active maintenance.