CVE-2024-3936 is a missing authorization vulnerability (CWE-862) in the WordPress plugin 'The Post Grid – Shortcode, Gutenberg Blocks and Elementor Addon for Post Grid' developed by techlabpro1. The vulnerability exists because the rtTPGSaveSettings function lacks a proper capability check, allowing any authenticated user with subscriber-level or higher privileges to modify the plugin's settings via AJAX requests. This missing authorization means that users who normally have limited access can escalate their influence by changing plugin configurations or invoking other AJAX actions hooked to this function. The plugin is widely used to display posts in grid layouts within WordPress sites, supporting shortcodes, Gutenberg blocks, and Elementor addons. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 7.6.1. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 4.3 (medium severity), with an attack vector of network, low attack complexity, requiring privileges, no user interaction, and impacting integrity but not confidentiality or availability. No public exploits or patches are currently available, but the flaw could be leveraged to alter site content presentation or facilitate further attacks by manipulating plugin behavior. The vulnerability was published on May 2, 2024, and assigned by Wordfence.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-3936 is unauthorized modification of plugin settings by authenticated users with minimal privileges, which can lead to integrity violations. Attackers could alter how posts are displayed or manipulate plugin features to mislead site visitors or administrators. Although this does not directly compromise confidentiality or availability, the ability to change plugin configurations could be used as a stepping stone for privilege escalation or to inject malicious content, potentially damaging the site's reputation or enabling further exploitation. For organizations relying on this plugin for content presentation, this vulnerability could disrupt normal operations or lead to unauthorized content changes. Since the vulnerability requires authenticated access, the risk is higher in environments with weak user account controls or where subscriber accounts are easily compromised. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits once the vulnerability is widely known.

To mitigate CVE-2024-3936, organizations should first check if an updated plugin version addressing the missing authorization check is available and apply it promptly. If no patch exists, administrators should restrict subscriber-level user capabilities to the minimum necessary and audit user accounts to ensure no unauthorized accounts exist. Implementing strict user role management and monitoring AJAX requests related to the plugin can help detect suspicious activity. Additionally, applying a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with custom rules to block unauthorized AJAX calls to the vulnerable function can reduce risk. Site administrators should also consider temporarily disabling the plugin if it is not critical or replacing it with alternative plugins that have proper authorization controls. Regular backups and monitoring for unexpected changes in plugin settings or site content are recommended to quickly respond to potential exploitation.