The Comparison Slider plugin for WordPress suffers from a missing authorization vulnerability (CWE-862) identified as CVE-2024-4427. This flaw exists in all versions up to and including 1.0.5, where several AJAX actions lack proper capability checks. As a result, authenticated users with minimal privileges (subscriber role or above) can perform unauthorized actions such as changing plugin settings and deleting sliders. The vulnerability arises because the plugin fails to verify if the requesting user has the necessary permissions before processing sensitive AJAX requests. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 4.3 (medium), reflecting that the attack vector is network-based, requires low privileges, no user interaction, and impacts integrity only, without affecting confidentiality or availability. No patches are currently linked, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild. This vulnerability could be leveraged to disrupt site content presentation or configuration, potentially affecting site reliability and user trust.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-4427 is unauthorized modification of plugin data, which can lead to altered or deleted sliders on affected WordPress sites. While this does not directly compromise sensitive data confidentiality or site availability, it undermines data integrity and site functionality. Attackers with subscriber-level access could deface or disrupt the visual content managed by the plugin, potentially damaging brand reputation and user experience. For organizations relying on the Comparison Slider plugin for critical content presentation, this could result in operational disruption and increased administrative overhead to restore correct settings. Since exploitation requires authenticated access, the risk is limited to environments where low-privilege accounts exist or where account compromise is possible.

To mitigate CVE-2024-4427, organizations should first check for and apply any available plugin updates or patches from the vendor once released. In the absence of patches, administrators should restrict subscriber-level user capabilities or remove unnecessary user accounts to limit potential attackers. Implementing strict role-based access controls and monitoring user activities related to plugin settings can help detect and prevent unauthorized changes. Additionally, web application firewalls (WAFs) can be configured to block suspicious AJAX requests targeting the plugin’s endpoints. Site owners should also consider disabling or replacing the Comparison Slider plugin if it is not essential. Regular backups of site content and plugin configurations will facilitate recovery in case of unauthorized modifications.