The Ultimate WordPress Toolkit – WP Extended plugin, widely used to enhance WordPress functionality, suffers from a missing authorization vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-11916. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-862, indicating a missing authorization check. Specifically, several functions within the plugin lack proper capability checks, allowing authenticated users with subscriber-level privileges or higher to import and activate arbitrary code snippets. This bypass of authorization controls means that attackers do not need administrative privileges to execute potentially malicious code on the server hosting the WordPress site. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 3.0.11, with no patch currently available as per the provided data. The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.4 reflects a high severity, considering the attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires low attack complexity (AC:L), and only low privileges (PR:L) without user interaction (UI:N). The scope is changed (S:C), indicating that exploitation can affect resources beyond the vulnerable component. The impact includes partial loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as attackers can modify site content, inject malicious code, or disrupt normal operations. Although no known exploits are reported in the wild, the vulnerability's nature and ease of exploitation make it a critical concern for WordPress sites using this plugin. The lack of patch links suggests that users must monitor vendor updates closely or apply alternative mitigations.

This vulnerability poses a significant risk to organizations running WordPress sites with The Ultimate WordPress Toolkit – WP Extended plugin. Attackers with minimal authenticated access (subscriber-level) can escalate their capabilities to execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to site defacement, data theft, or full site compromise. The integrity of the website content and backend data can be altered without proper authorization, undermining trust and potentially exposing sensitive user information. Availability may also be affected if attackers deploy disruptive payloads or backdoors. Given WordPress's widespread use globally, this vulnerability could be exploited to target a broad range of organizations, including small businesses, blogs, and even larger enterprises relying on this plugin for site management. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the ease of exploitation and network accessibility make it likely that attackers will develop exploits soon. The vulnerability could also be leveraged as a foothold for lateral movement within compromised environments, increasing overall risk.

Organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify the presence of The Ultimate WordPress Toolkit – WP Extended plugin and verify the version in use. Until an official patch is released, administrators should restrict subscriber-level user capabilities where possible, minimizing the risk of unauthorized code snippet importation. Implementing strict user role management and monitoring for unusual activities related to code snippet imports or activations is critical. Employing Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the vulnerable plugin functions can provide temporary protection. Regularly backing up WordPress sites and databases ensures recovery options in case of compromise. Additionally, consider disabling or removing the plugin if it is not essential to reduce the attack surface. Stay informed on vendor advisories for patches or updates addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly once available. Finally, conduct security awareness training for site administrators to recognize and respond to potential exploitation attempts.