CVE-2024-13637 is a vulnerability identified in the Demo Awesome WordPress plugin developed by romik84, affecting all versions up to and including 1.0.3. The root cause is a missing authorization check (CWE-862) in the install_plugin function, which fails to verify if the authenticated user has sufficient capabilities to install or activate plugins. This flaw allows any authenticated user with at least Subscriber-level privileges to bypass normal permission restrictions and install arbitrary plugins. Since WordPress typically restricts plugin installation to Administrator roles, this vulnerability significantly lowers the bar for privilege escalation and unauthorized code execution. Exploiting this vulnerability requires no user interaction and can be performed remotely over the network, increasing its risk. The vulnerability impacts the integrity of the WordPress site by enabling unauthorized modifications, though it does not directly affect confidentiality or availability. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.5 (medium severity), reflecting the ease of exploitation (low attack complexity), the requirement for low privileges (PR:L), and the lack of user interaction (UI:N). No patches or official fixes are currently linked, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the vulnerability poses a significant risk to sites using this plugin. Organizations relying on Demo Awesome should monitor for updates and consider immediate mitigations.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-13637 is unauthorized modification of WordPress sites through arbitrary plugin installation and activation. This can lead to privilege escalation, as attackers can install plugins that grant administrative access or execute malicious code. The integrity of the site is compromised, potentially allowing attackers to deface websites, steal data, or pivot to further attacks within the hosting environment. Although confidentiality and availability are not directly impacted by the vulnerability itself, the installed malicious plugins could facilitate data breaches or denial-of-service conditions. Organizations worldwide that use the Demo Awesome plugin are at risk, especially those with multiple users having Subscriber or higher roles. The vulnerability could be exploited by insiders or external attackers who have obtained low-level credentials, making it a significant threat to WordPress site security and trustworthiness.

To mitigate CVE-2024-13637, organizations should immediately restrict user roles to the minimum necessary privileges, ensuring that Subscriber-level users do not have unintended elevated access. Site administrators should audit user permissions and remove unnecessary accounts with plugin installation capabilities. Until an official patch is released, consider disabling or uninstalling the Demo Awesome plugin to eliminate the attack surface. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block unauthorized plugin installation attempts. Monitor WordPress logs for suspicious plugin installation or activation activities. Additionally, implement strict access controls on the WordPress admin interface, such as IP whitelisting or two-factor authentication, to reduce the risk of credential compromise. Regularly back up the site and test restoration procedures to recover quickly from potential compromises. Stay informed about vendor updates and apply patches promptly once available.