CVE-2024-3729 is a critical security vulnerability identified in the Frontend Admin by DynamiApps plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 3.19.4. The root cause is improper exception handling in the 'fea_encrypt' function, which fails securely when the PHP 'openssl' extension is missing. Normally, encryption functions rely on 'openssl' for secure cryptographic operations; however, if 'openssl' is not loaded, the plugin does not handle the failure properly and continues processing, effectively 'failing open'. This failure mode allows unauthenticated attackers to manipulate user processing forms. Specifically, attackers can add or edit administrator users, leading to privilege escalation, bypass authentication by automatically logging in users, and inject arbitrary web scripts through post processing forms, potentially enabling cross-site scripting (XSS) or other injection attacks. The vulnerability requires no authentication or user interaction and can be exploited remotely over the network. The CVSS 3.1 score of 9.8 reflects the critical nature of this flaw, with attack vector network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and full impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no public exploits are currently known, the severity and ease of exploitation make this a high-risk vulnerability for WordPress sites using this plugin without the 'openssl' PHP extension. The lack of patch links suggests that a fix may not yet be publicly available, increasing the urgency for mitigation.

The impact of CVE-2024-3729 is severe for organizations running WordPress sites with the Frontend Admin by DynamiApps plugin without the 'openssl' PHP extension. Attackers can gain administrative privileges without authentication, effectively taking full control of the website. This enables unauthorized access to sensitive data, modification or deletion of content, and the ability to inject malicious scripts that can compromise visitors or further propagate attacks. The authentication bypass undermines the trust model of the site, while arbitrary script injection can lead to widespread malware distribution or phishing campaigns. The vulnerability also threatens website availability if attackers disrupt or deface the site. Organizations relying on this plugin for administrative functions face significant risks of data breaches, reputational damage, and potential regulatory penalties. The ease of exploitation and lack of required privileges mean that even low-skilled attackers can leverage this flaw, increasing the likelihood of attacks globally.

To mitigate CVE-2024-3729, organizations should first verify that the PHP 'openssl' extension is installed and enabled on their web servers, as the vulnerability only manifests when this extension is missing. Enabling 'openssl' ensures proper cryptographic operations and prevents the plugin from failing open. Additionally, administrators should update the Frontend Admin by DynamiApps plugin to the latest version once a patch is released by the vendor. Until a patch is available, consider disabling or removing the plugin to eliminate exposure. Implementing Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting user processing forms can provide temporary protection. Regularly audit user accounts for unauthorized administrator additions or changes. Monitoring logs for unusual authentication or form submission activity can help detect exploitation attempts early. Finally, maintain a robust backup and incident response plan to recover quickly if compromise occurs.