CVE-2024-1710 is a security vulnerability identified in the Addon Library plugin for WordPress, developed by unitecms. The vulnerability arises from a missing authorization check in the onAjaxAction function, which is responsible for handling AJAX requests within the plugin. Specifically, the plugin fails to verify whether the authenticated user has the necessary capabilities before processing certain actions. This flaw affects all versions of the Addon Library plugin up to and including version 1.3.76. As a result, any authenticated user with subscriber-level access or higher can exploit this vulnerability to perform unauthorized actions, including the critical ability to upload arbitrary files to the server. The absence of proper capability checks means that even low-privileged users can escalate their impact beyond intended permissions. Although there are no known exploits in the wild at the time of this analysis, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the potential for file upload, which could lead to remote code execution or defacement if exploited. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization), indicating a failure to enforce proper access controls. The plugin is widely used in WordPress environments, which are common across many European organizations for content management and web presence. The lack of a patch link suggests that a fix may not yet be publicly available, increasing the urgency for mitigation measures.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be substantial. WordPress is a dominant content management system across Europe, used by businesses, government agencies, and non-profits alike. The Addon Library plugin’s vulnerability allows attackers with minimal privileges to upload arbitrary files, potentially leading to server compromise, data breaches, defacement of websites, or the deployment of malware. This can result in loss of confidentiality if sensitive data is accessed or exfiltrated, integrity if website content is altered, and availability if the server is disrupted or taken offline. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, and public administration are particularly at risk due to the sensitive nature of their data and the reputational damage that a successful attack could cause. Additionally, the ability to upload files without authorization could be leveraged to establish persistent backdoors or pivot to other internal systems, amplifying the threat. The medium severity rating reflects the need for prompt attention, especially since exploitation requires only subscriber-level authentication, which is commonly granted to registered users or customers in many WordPress sites.

1. Immediate mitigation should involve restricting or disabling the Addon Library plugin until a security patch is released by unitecms. 2. Implement strict user role management to limit subscriber-level access only to trusted users, minimizing the risk of exploitation. 3. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious AJAX requests targeting the vulnerable onAjaxAction function. 4. Monitor server logs and WordPress activity logs for unusual file upload attempts or unauthorized actions originating from subscriber accounts. 5. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability scans focusing on WordPress plugins, especially those with known authorization weaknesses. 6. If possible, apply virtual patching techniques through security plugins that can intercept and block unauthorized AJAX calls. 7. Educate site administrators on the risks of granting subscriber-level access and encourage the use of multi-factor authentication to reduce the likelihood of compromised accounts. 8. Prepare an incident response plan to quickly address any signs of exploitation, including isolating affected systems and performing forensic analysis.