CVE-2024-8430 identifies a missing authorization vulnerability (CWE-862) in the Spice Starter Sites plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 1.2.5. The vulnerability stems from the absence of a capability check in the spice_starter_sites_importer_creater function, which is responsible for importing demo content into WordPress sites. Because this function lacks proper authorization controls, unauthenticated attackers can invoke it remotely to import demo content without any restrictions. This unauthorized modification can alter the site's content or configuration, potentially misleading site visitors or interfering with normal site operations. The vulnerability does not expose confidential data nor does it allow denial of service, but it compromises the integrity of the website content. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N) indicates network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges or user interaction required, unchanged scope, no confidentiality or availability impact, and limited integrity impact. No patches or exploits are currently publicly available, but the plugin's popularity in WordPress ecosystems means many sites could be vulnerable. The vulnerability was published on October 1, 2024, and assigned by Wordfence. Mitigation requires updating the plugin once a patch is released or applying manual authorization checks to the affected function.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-8430 is unauthorized modification of website content by unauthenticated attackers. This can lead to the injection of unwanted demo content, which may confuse or mislead site visitors, degrade user experience, or damage the site’s reputation. For organizations relying on their WordPress sites for brand presence, e-commerce, or customer engagement, such unauthorized changes can result in loss of trust and potential revenue impact. Although the vulnerability does not allow data theft or denial of service, the integrity compromise can be leveraged as a foothold for further attacks if combined with other vulnerabilities. The ease of exploitation without authentication increases the risk of automated mass scanning and exploitation attempts. Organizations with high-traffic WordPress sites using this plugin are particularly at risk, especially if they do not have robust monitoring or content validation processes in place.

1. Monitor the Spice Starter Sites plugin vendor announcements and update to the latest patched version as soon as it becomes available. 2. Until a patch is released, restrict access to the WordPress REST API endpoints or AJAX actions related to the spice_starter_sites_importer_creater function using web application firewalls (WAFs) or custom access control rules. 3. Implement manual capability checks or code-level patches to enforce authorization on the importer function if feasible. 4. Regularly audit website content for unauthorized changes or unexpected demo content imports. 5. Employ security plugins that monitor and alert on unauthorized content modifications. 6. Limit plugin usage to trusted and necessary plugins only, and consider disabling or removing unused plugins. 7. Harden WordPress installations by restricting file permissions and using least privilege principles for user roles. 8. Educate site administrators about this vulnerability and encourage prompt action upon patch release.