CVE-2024-11178 is an authentication bypass vulnerability classified under CWE-288, affecting the 'Login With OTP' WordPress plugin developed by india-web-developer. The vulnerability arises because the plugin generates weak six-digit numeric one-time passwords (OTPs) without imposing any restrictions on the number of attempts or time limits for OTP validity. This design flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to perform brute force attacks against the OTP mechanism to gain unauthorized access to any existing user account on the WordPress site, including high-privilege administrator accounts, provided the attacker has access to the victim's email to receive OTPs. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 1.4.2. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.1 (high severity) with vector AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, indicating network attack vector, high attack complexity, no privileges or user interaction required, and full impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the widespread use of WordPress and the plugin. The lack of OTP attempt limits and weak numeric OTPs make brute forcing feasible, especially if attackers can automate attempts and have access to the victim's email. This vulnerability can lead to complete site compromise, data theft, defacement, or further lateral attacks within the hosting environment.

The impact of CVE-2024-11178 is severe for organizations relying on the 'Login With OTP' plugin for WordPress authentication. Successful exploitation allows attackers to bypass authentication controls and gain unauthorized access to any user account, including administrators, leading to full site compromise. This can result in data breaches exposing sensitive customer and business information, defacement or destruction of website content, installation of backdoors or malware, and disruption of services. The integrity and availability of the affected WordPress sites are at high risk. Organizations with public-facing WordPress sites using this plugin are particularly vulnerable to targeted attacks, automated brute force campaigns, and phishing-assisted attacks leveraging compromised email accounts. The absence of attempt limits exacerbates the risk by enabling attackers to persistently guess OTPs. This vulnerability undermines trust in the affected websites and can cause reputational damage and regulatory compliance issues, especially in sectors handling sensitive data such as finance, healthcare, and e-commerce.

To mitigate CVE-2024-11178, organizations should immediately update the 'Login With OTP' plugin to a patched version once available. Until a patch is released, consider disabling the plugin or replacing it with alternative, more secure multi-factor authentication solutions. Implement strict rate limiting and lockout policies on OTP verification attempts to prevent brute force attacks. Enforce stronger OTP generation mechanisms, such as longer alphanumeric codes or time-based one-time passwords (TOTP) with limited validity periods. Monitor authentication logs for suspicious repeated OTP attempts and unusual login patterns. Ensure email accounts associated with user logins are secured with strong passwords and multi-factor authentication to prevent attackers from intercepting OTPs. Conduct regular security audits of WordPress installations and plugins to identify and remediate vulnerabilities promptly. Educate users about phishing risks and the importance of securing their email accounts. Network-level protections such as Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) can help detect and block brute force attempts targeting the OTP endpoint.