CVE-2024-9531 is an authorization bypass vulnerability classified under CWE-285 found in the MultiVendorX – The Ultimate WooCommerce Multivendor Marketplace Solution plugin for WordPress. The vulnerability stems from the absence of a proper capability check in the 'mvx_sent_deactivation_request' function, which is responsible for handling vendor profile deactivation requests. This function can be invoked by any authenticated user with at least Subscriber-level privileges, allowing them to send a pre-defined email to the site administrator requesting the deletion of an arbitrary vendor's profile. Since WooCommerce is widely used for e-commerce, and MultiVendorX extends it to support multivendor marketplaces, this flaw could be exploited by low-privileged users to disrupt vendor operations by initiating unauthorized deactivation requests. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 4.2.4. The attack vector is remote network access with low complexity and no user interaction beyond authentication. The impact is primarily on data integrity, as unauthorized modification requests could lead to administrative actions against legitimate vendors if the administrator acts on the email without verification. Confidentiality and availability impacts are minimal. No patches or known exploits are currently reported, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and should be addressed promptly.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-9531 is on the integrity of vendor management within WooCommerce multivendor marketplaces using the MultiVendorX plugin. Attackers with low-level authenticated access can send unauthorized deactivation requests, potentially leading to wrongful deletion or suspension of vendor profiles if administrators act on these requests without additional verification. This could disrupt vendor operations, cause financial losses, and damage marketplace reputation. While the vulnerability does not directly expose sensitive data or cause denial of service, the indirect effects on business continuity and trust can be significant. Organizations relying on MultiVendorX for managing multiple vendors are particularly at risk. The ease of exploitation and the low privilege required increase the likelihood of opportunistic abuse, especially in marketplaces with many registered users. The absence of known exploits in the wild suggests limited current impact but also highlights the need for proactive mitigation before attackers develop weaponized exploits.

To mitigate CVE-2024-9531, organizations should immediately update the MultiVendorX plugin to a version that includes the necessary capability checks once available. Until a patch is released, administrators can implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Restrict Subscriber-level user registrations or review user roles to limit unnecessary access. 2) Implement manual verification procedures for any vendor deactivation requests received via email to prevent acting on unauthorized requests. 3) Use WordPress security plugins or custom code to enforce capability checks on the 'mvx_sent_deactivation_request' function, ensuring only authorized roles can trigger deactivation emails. 4) Monitor logs for unusual activity related to vendor deactivation requests, especially those initiated by low-privileged users. 5) Educate site administrators about this vulnerability and the importance of verifying deactivation requests before taking action. 6) Consider temporarily disabling the deactivation request feature if feasible until a secure update is applied. These targeted steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on role management, process controls, and monitoring specific to this vulnerability.