CVE-2024-8106 is an information exposure vulnerability classified under CWE-200 found in The Ultimate WordPress Toolkit – WP Extended plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 3.0.8. The vulnerability exists in the download_user_ajax function, which improperly handles access control, allowing authenticated users with Subscriber-level privileges or higher to extract sensitive information. Specifically, attackers can retrieve usernames, hashed passwords, and email addresses of users registered on the WordPress site. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network without requiring user interaction, and the attacker only needs low-level authenticated access, which is commonly granted to subscribers or registered users on many WordPress sites. The exposure of hashed passwords, even if salted and hashed, increases the risk of offline brute-force or cracking attempts, potentially leading to account compromise. The flaw does not affect the integrity or availability of the system but compromises confidentiality. No patches or official fixes are listed yet, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.5, indicating a medium severity with the vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N, meaning network attack vector, low attack complexity, privileges required, no user interaction, unchanged scope, high confidentiality impact, no integrity or availability impact.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-8106 is the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user information, including usernames, hashed passwords, and email addresses. This can lead to several downstream risks for organizations worldwide. Attackers gaining access to hashed passwords can attempt offline cracking attacks, potentially compromising user accounts and escalating privileges. Exposure of email addresses facilitates targeted phishing campaigns and social engineering attacks. For organizations relying on WordPress sites with this plugin, this vulnerability undermines user privacy and trust, potentially leading to reputational damage and regulatory compliance issues, especially under data protection laws like GDPR. Although the vulnerability does not directly affect system integrity or availability, the compromise of user credentials can lead to further exploitation, including unauthorized access, data manipulation, or site defacement. The ease of exploitation by low-privilege authenticated users increases the risk in environments where subscriber accounts are commonly created or where user registration is open. The lack of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as attackers may develop exploits rapidly once the vulnerability is public.

To mitigate CVE-2024-8106, organizations should first verify if they are using The Ultimate WordPress Toolkit – WP Extended plugin and determine the version in use. Since no official patch is currently listed, immediate mitigation steps include restricting user registration and minimizing the number of users with Subscriber-level access or higher. Implement strict access controls and monitor user activities for suspicious behavior. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block requests targeting the download_user_ajax function or unusual AJAX calls. Consider temporarily disabling or removing the plugin if it is not essential to reduce attack surface. Enforce strong password policies and encourage users to use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the impact of potential credential compromise. Regularly audit user accounts and credentials for signs of compromise. Stay updated with vendor announcements for patches or updates addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly once available. Additionally, monitor security advisories and threat intelligence feeds for any emerging exploits targeting this vulnerability.