CVE-2024-4898CWE-862

InstaWP Connect – 1-click WP Staging & Migration <= 0.1.0.38 - Missing Authorization to Unauthenticated API setup/Arbitrary Options Update/Administrative User Creation

Critical · published June 12, 2024

CVSS v3.1
9.8
EPSS
4%
Percentile
90.8
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

🚨 A missing authorization check in the InstaWP Connect plugin could allow anyone to become the admin of your site with a simple API call! 🔥 Think of this like a hotel receptionist who lets anyone walk in and change room bookings without confirming their identity — a recipe for chaos! An attacker could connect to your site via the InstaWP API, alter critical settings, and even create new administrator accounts, potentially leading to a full takeover of your WordPress site. This is not just a minor inconvenience; it could lead to data loss, defacement, or unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Put simply

Think of this like a hotel receptionist who lets anyone walk in and change room bookings without confirming their identity — a recipe for chaos! This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to exploit the REST API due to missing authorization checks. This means they can make arbitrary option updates, effectively controlling site settings and user roles without any valid credentials.

What to do

An attacker could connect to your site via the InstaWP API, alter critical settings, and even create new administrator accounts, potentially leading to a full takeover of your WordPress site. This is not just a minor inconvenience; it could lead to data loss, defacement, or unauthorized access to sensitive information. Immediately update the InstaWP Connect plugin to version 0.1.0.39 or later to close this gap. Review your site settings, and consider implementing additional security measures like restricting REST API access to trusted users only. You've got this! Follow these steps, and you'll have robust protection in no time. 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
9.8 · CRITICAL
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.04156 · 90.8th percentile
Weakness
CWE-862 · Missing Authorization
Published
2024-06-12T11:05Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 12 JUN 11:05Z
    InstaWP Connect – 1-click WP Staging & Migration <= 0.1.0.38 - Missing Authorization to Unauthenticated API setup/Arbitrary Options Update/Administrative User Creation
    cvelistv5