CVE-2024-8431 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization) found in the robosoft Photo Gallery, Images, Slider plugin for WordPress, specifically in the ajaxGetGalleryJson() function. This function lacks proper capability checks, which means it does not verify whether the requesting user has the necessary permissions to access certain data. As a result, any authenticated user with subscriber-level privileges or higher can exploit this flaw to retrieve private post titles that should otherwise be restricted. The vulnerability affects all versions of the plugin up to and including 3.2.21. The attack vector is network-based and does not require any user interaction, making it relatively easy to exploit once an attacker has subscriber-level access. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality by exposing private post titles but does not affect data integrity or availability. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.3, indicating medium severity, with attack vector network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), privileges required low (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), confidentiality impact low (C:L), and no impact on integrity or availability (I:N/A:N). There are currently no known exploits in the wild, and no official patches have been released at the time of this report. The vulnerability was published on October 8, 2024, and was assigned by Wordfence. This issue highlights the importance of proper authorization checks in WordPress plugins, especially those handling private content.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-8431 is the unauthorized disclosure of private post titles within WordPress sites using the vulnerable robosoft Photo Gallery plugin. While the information disclosed may seem limited, it can provide attackers with insights into private content, potentially aiding in social engineering, reconnaissance, or targeted attacks. Since the vulnerability requires only subscriber-level access, attackers who manage to create or compromise low-privileged accounts can exploit this flaw without needing administrative rights. This can be particularly concerning for websites that host sensitive or proprietary content. However, the vulnerability does not allow modification or deletion of data, nor does it affect site availability. Organizations relying on this plugin may face confidentiality risks, especially if private post titles reveal sensitive business or personal information. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the ease of exploitation and widespread use of WordPress and this plugin means the threat could escalate quickly if exploited in the wild.

To mitigate CVE-2024-8431, organizations should take the following specific actions: 1) Immediately audit user roles and permissions to ensure that subscriber-level accounts are tightly controlled and monitored, minimizing the risk of account compromise. 2) Restrict subscriber-level access to trusted users only, and consider implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all authenticated users to reduce the risk of credential theft. 3) Monitor web server and application logs for unusual or unauthorized access patterns to the ajaxGetGalleryJson() endpoint. 4) If feasible, temporarily disable or replace the robosoft Photo Gallery plugin until an official patch is released. 5) Engage with the plugin vendor or community to track the release of security updates and apply patches promptly once available. 6) Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious AJAX requests targeting the vulnerable function. 7) Conduct regular security assessments of WordPress plugins and themes to identify and remediate similar authorization issues proactively.