The Restaurant Cafeteria WordPress theme through version 0.4.6 exposes insecure admin-ajax actions without nonce or capability checks. This vulnerability allows any logged-in user, including subscribers, to perform privileged operations. An attacker can install and activate a plugin from a user-supplied URL, leading to arbitrary PHP code execution. Additionally, the attacker can import demo content that rewrites site configuration, including modifications to the theme, pages, menus, and front page settings.
With a CVSS score of 5.4, this vulnerability is classified as medium severity, indicating that it presents a moderate risk to organizations. The ability to execute arbitrary PHP code can lead to significant impacts, including unauthorized access and manipulation of site content. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to protect against potential exploitation.
Currently, there are no known exploits available for this vulnerability, and it is not part of the known exploitation vulnerability (KEV) catalog. However, due to its nature, it is crucial for organizations to remain vigilant and apply the necessary updates to prevent unauthorized use.
Organizations using the Restaurant Cafeteria theme should ensure they update to the latest version as soon as possible. This proactive step will mitigate risks associated with this and potentially other vulnerabilities that may be discovered in the future.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability description states that this vulnerability allows an attacker to install and activate a plugin from a user-supplied URL due to insecure admin-ajax actions in the Restaurant Cafeteria WordPress theme version 0.4.6. The attack vector is network-based, and it has low attack complexity, requiring only low privileges and no user interaction.
The CVSS vector for this vulnerability is CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N, indicating low complexity and low impact on confidentiality and integrity, while availability is unaffected.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the lack of nonce and capability checks for admin-ajax actions within the Restaurant Cafeteria theme. This oversight allows logged-in users to bypass necessary security controls and perform unauthorized actions, such as installing plugins from arbitrary sources.
The attack vector is primarily network-based, meaning that an attacker can exploit this vulnerability remotely. The attack complexity is low, as it requires only low privileges—meaning any logged-in user can potentially exploit it. No user interaction is needed, further enhancing the vulnerability's risk profile.
The impact of this vulnerability includes low confidentiality and integrity impacts, with no effect on availability. This indicates that while an attacker can execute arbitrary code and manipulate site configurations, they cannot disrupt the site's availability.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes potential unauthorized access to sensitive site configurations and the ability to execute arbitrary PHP code, leading to further exploitation. The blast radius is significant, as any logged-in user could exploit this vulnerability, potentially affecting the entire user base of the Restaurant Cafeteria theme.
Organizations should assess their deployment risk and prioritize this vulnerability in their patching cycle. Given the CVSS score of 5.4 and the nature of the exposure, organizations should address this in their priority patch cycle to minimize the risk of exploitation.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
All versions of the Restaurant Cafeteria WordPress theme prior to version 0.4.6 are affected by this vulnerability. Organizations should ensure they are running the latest version to mitigate any risks associated with this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should update the Restaurant Cafeteria WordPress theme to the latest version to remediate this vulnerability. If immediate patching is not possible, consider implementing workarounds such as restricting admin access to trusted users only and monitoring for any suspicious activity.
For ongoing security, organizations may also benefit from conducting regular security assessments and penetration testing. Learn more about effective strategies through our penetration testing services to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for unusual admin-ajax requests and validate user activities. Behavioral anomalies in user actions, such as unexpected installations or content imports, should be flagged for further investigation.
Additionally, network signatures can be established to detect unauthorized plugin installations or code executions through admin-ajax endpoints.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The Restaurant Cafeteria WordPress theme vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper access controls. It sheds light on a broader trend in web development where inadequate security measures can lead to significant risks.
Security teams should leverage this situation to reinforce the importance of reviewing and hardening application security. Regularly updating software and conducting security assessments can prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited.
For further guidance on application security best practices, consider our resource on application security assessments to enhance your organization's defenses.
Additionally, our insights into penetration testing methodology can provide valuable strategies for identifying vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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