CVE-2024-11936 is a vulnerability identified in the MVPThemes Zox News WordPress theme affecting all versions up to and including 3.16.0. The root cause is a missing capability check (authorization) in the 'backup_options' and 'restore_options' functions, which are intended to manage site configuration backups and restores. Due to this missing authorization, any authenticated user with at least Subscriber-level privileges can invoke these functions to modify arbitrary WordPress options. A critical exploitation path involves changing the 'default_role' option to 'administrator' and enabling user registration, thereby allowing an attacker to create new administrative accounts without legitimate authorization. This vulnerability impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected WordPress sites by enabling privilege escalation and potential full site takeover. The CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) indicates network exploitable, low attack complexity, requiring only low privileges and no user interaction, with high impact on all security properties. Although no public exploits are currently known, the vulnerability is critical due to the widespread use of WordPress and the popularity of the Zox News theme. The vulnerability was reserved in late November 2024 and published in January 2025, with no patch links currently available, emphasizing the need for vendor action and user vigilance.

The vulnerability allows attackers with minimal privileges (Subscriber-level) to escalate their access to full administrative control over WordPress sites using the Zox News theme. This can lead to complete site compromise, including data theft, content manipulation, installation of backdoors, and disruption of services. Unauthorized administrative access undermines the confidentiality and integrity of site data and can severely impact availability if attackers deploy destructive payloads or lock out legitimate administrators. Given WordPress's extensive use globally, especially for news and content sites, the impact can be widespread, affecting organizational reputation, user trust, and potentially leading to regulatory and compliance issues. The ease of exploitation without user interaction increases the risk of automated attacks and mass exploitation campaigns once exploit code becomes available.

Until an official patch is released by MVPThemes, organizations should implement strict access controls to limit authenticated user roles to trusted individuals only, avoiding unnecessary Subscriber or higher-level accounts. Disable user registration if not required to prevent attackers from leveraging the default role change. Monitor WordPress option changes, especially modifications to 'default_role' and user registration settings, using security plugins or custom logging. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules targeting suspicious requests to backup or restore options endpoints. Regularly audit user accounts and remove any unauthorized administrators promptly. Stay informed about vendor updates and apply patches immediately upon release. Consider temporarily switching to alternative themes or disabling the Zox News theme if feasible to reduce exposure. Backup site data frequently and verify backup integrity to enable recovery from potential compromises.