CVE-2024-1090 is a vulnerability identified in the ImageRecycle pdf & image compression plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 3.1.13. The core issue is a missing authorization check (CWE-862) on the stopOptimizeAll function, which is responsible for halting all ongoing image optimization processes. Due to the lack of proper capability verification, any authenticated user with subscriber-level access or higher can invoke this function and modify image optimization settings without appropriate permissions. This vulnerability does not require administrative privileges, significantly lowering the bar for exploitation. The plugin is widely used to optimize images and PDFs on WordPress sites, improving page load times and reducing bandwidth usage. By manipulating optimization settings, an attacker could degrade the performance benefits of the plugin, potentially causing increased page load times or bandwidth consumption. Additionally, unauthorized changes could disrupt workflows relying on image optimization, impacting website availability or user experience. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability's presence in a popular WordPress plugin and the low privilege required for exploitation make it a notable risk. The absence of a patch link suggests that a fix may not yet be publicly available, emphasizing the need for immediate mitigation steps. The vulnerability primarily affects the confidentiality and integrity of the image optimization process but does not directly expose sensitive data or allow code execution. However, indirect impacts on availability and operational stability of websites using this plugin are plausible if attackers manipulate settings maliciously.

For European organizations, especially those relying on WordPress for their web presence, this vulnerability could lead to degraded website performance and user experience due to unauthorized changes in image optimization settings. E-commerce platforms, media companies, and public sector websites that depend on fast-loading content may see increased bandwidth costs and slower page loads, potentially affecting customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. While the vulnerability does not directly compromise sensitive data, the ability of low-privilege users to alter plugin behavior could be leveraged in multi-user environments to disrupt service or prepare for further attacks. Organizations with strict compliance requirements around website availability and performance may face indirect regulatory or reputational risks if their sites are impacted. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate threat but does not eliminate the risk, especially as attackers often target widely used WordPress plugins. Given the plugin’s role in content delivery optimization, any disruption could have cascading effects on digital services, particularly in sectors where uptime and responsiveness are critical.

1. Immediate mitigation should include restricting subscriber-level user capabilities where possible, limiting the number of users with access to WordPress accounts at or above subscriber level. 2. Monitor and audit user activity related to the ImageRecycle plugin settings to detect unauthorized changes promptly. 3. Temporarily disable the ImageRecycle plugin if image optimization is not critical or if alternative optimization methods are available until a patch is released. 4. Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the stopOptimizeAll function or related plugin endpoints. 5. Keep WordPress core and all plugins updated regularly and subscribe to vendor or security mailing lists to receive patch notifications. 6. Consider deploying role-based access control (RBAC) plugins to enforce stricter permission models beyond WordPress defaults. 7. Conduct security awareness training for users with subscriber-level access to recognize and report unusual plugin behavior. 8. After a patch becomes available, prioritize its deployment and verify that the authorization checks are correctly enforced.