Paid Memberships Pro Vulnerability – Cross-Site Request Forgery to Level Orders Update – CVE-2024-0624 | WordPress Plugin Vulnerability Report

Q: What exactly is the vulnerability in Paid Memberships Pro?

What exactly is the vulnerability in Paid Memberships Pro? The vulnerability is a cross-site request forgery (CSRF) issue that stems from improper validation of requests. This enables unauthorized users to manipulate the order of membership levels if they trick an admin into clicking on a malicious link. Successfully exploiting this vulnerability allows attackers to reorder membership levels at will.

Q: Why is this vulnerability dangerous for my site?

Why is this vulnerability dangerous for my site? While reordering memberships may seem harmless at first glance, it gives attackers an initial foothold to launch more serious follow-on attacks. Since membership level order often correlates with access permissions, hackers can elevate their permissions by moving lower access levels up. This then opens the door for them to override other permission settings, steal sensitive data, install malware, or cause disruption.

Q: What could happen if my site got hacked due to this vulnerability?

What could happen if my site got hacked due to this vulnerability? Potential impacts include complete site takeover, data or funds theft, malware installation, denial of service attacks, reputation damage, search engine penalties, and legal liabilities. Skilled attackers leveraging vulnerabilities like this can quickly escalate access to damage or destroy your site and business.

Q: How urgent is it to update Paid Memberships Pro?

How urgent is it to update Paid Memberships Pro? This vulnerability warrants immediate action as it can be easily and automatically exploited. Given that over 90,000 sites currently use a vulnerable version, hackers are likely already scanning for targets. Each day without updating leaves your site open to attack so you should upgrade as soon as possible.

Q: I use an older version of the plugin. Am I still at risk?

I use an older version of the plugin. Am I still at risk? Yes, any site running Paid Memberships Pro version 2.12.7 or earlier contains this CSRF vulnerability. The developer has patched the issue in version 2.12.8, so upgrading cleans up the vulnerability across all previously affected versions. Using an older unsupported version also opens your site to other unpatched flaws.

Q: What should I do if my site was already hacked?

What should I do if my site was already hacked? If you suspect your site was already compromised, immediately take it offline. Then contact a specialized WordPress security firm to conduct forensic analysis to check for backdoors, malware, and other issues remediation. Expect that you will likely need to fully rebuild your site on clean infrastructure after a hack.

Q: How can I check if my site has been compromised?

How can I check if my site has been compromised? Signs of existing compromise include changed settings, unknown admin accounts, suspicious files, redirects, SEO spam, hidden iFrames, phishing forms, and unexpected coding changes. Note these indicators can be subtle so if anything seems strange, it likely warrants further inspection.

Q: How much help will I need to update the plugin?

How much help will I need to update the plugin? If you are technically comfortable with the WordPress dashboard, updating Paid Memberships Pro requires just a few clicks. For those less familiar, many firms offer affordable managed IT plans to handle updates for you. Having regular maintenance helps avoid issues down the road.

Q: What other steps can I take to secure my site?

What other steps can I take to secure my site? Beyond patching this specific plugin vulnerability, general best practices for securing WordPress include: enabling automatic background updates, limiting plugins, monitoring logs, setting up backups, using strong passwords, requiring multi-factor authentication, restricting admin access, and installing a web application firewall.

Q: Who can I contact if I have more questions on securing my site?

Who can I contact if I have more questions on securing my site? Our team of WordPress security experts is always available to help assess your site's vulnerabilities and provide affordable ongoing security. Please reach out for a no-obligation quote if you need any help or have additional questions around locking down your website.

By Your WP Guy | January 24, 2024

Plugin Name: Paid Memberships Pro

Key Information:

Software Type: Plugin
Software Slug: paid-memberships-pro
Software Status: Active
Software Author: strangerstudios
Software Downloads: 5,532,954
Active Installs: 90,000
Last Updated: January 24, 2024
Patched Versions: 2.12.8
Affected Versions: <= 2.12.7

Vulnerability Details:

Name: Paid Memberships Pro <= 2.12.7 - Cross-Site Request Forgery to Level Orders Update
Type: Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
CVE: CVE-2024-0624
CVSS Score: 5.3 (Medium)
Publicly Published: January 24, 2024
Researcher: kodaichodai
Description: The Paid Memberships Pro – Content Restriction, User Registration, & Paid Subscriptions plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in all versions up to, and including, 2.12.7. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the pmpro_update_level_order() function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to update the order of levels via a forged request granted they can trick a site administrator into performing an action such as clicking on a link.

Summary:

The Paid Memberships Pro for WordPress has a vulnerability in versions up to and including 2.12.7 that allows unauthenticated attackers to update the order of membership levels by tricking an admin into clicking a forged link. This Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerability has been patched in version 2.12.8.

Detailed Overview:

The vulnerability, discovered by researcher kodaichodai, is due to improper validation of nonces in the pmpro_update_level_order() function of the plugin. This makes it possible for attackers to send a forged request that updates membership level order if they can trick a site admin into clicking a link or performing another action. Successful exploitation gives the attacker control over the order in which membership levels are displayed.

While the CVSS score is medium at 5.3, this could enable further attacks by manipulating level permissions. Users are strongly advised to update as soon as possible.

Advice for Users:

Immediate Action: Upgrade to version 2.12.8 or higher as soon as possible.
Check for Signs of Compromise: Review membership level order and permissions to confirm they match intended configurations.
Alternate Plugins: Consider using an alternate membership plugin like MemberPress as a precaution.
Stay Updated: Enable automatic updates for plugins to get vulnerability fixes as soon as they become available.

Conclusion:

This CSRF vulnerability allowed unauthenticated access to manipulate membership data, underscoring the importance of validation and rapid response. Users should upgrade immediately to prevent potential follow-on attacks.

References:

https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/wordpress-plugins/paid-memberships-pro

https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/wordpress-plugins/paid-memberships-pro/paid-memberships-pro-2127-cross-site-request-forgery-to-level-orders-update

Detailed Report:

Managing a small business is a constant juggling act. Finding time to stay on top of your website’s security vulnerabilities likely falls low on the priority list. But outdated plugins and themes open backdoors for attackers to compromise your site. Unfortunately, a popular premium membership plugin called Paid Memberships Pro has a vulnerability in versions up to and including 2.12.7 that puts over 90,000 WordPress sites at risk.

About Paid Memberships Pro

With over 5.5 million downloads and 90,000+ active installs, Paid Memberships Pro is a top plugin for offering subscription content and member areas on WordPress sites. This membership management plugin is full-featured yet easy to use, making it a go-to choice for small business owners.

Cross-Site Request Forgery Vulnerability

Researcher kodaichodai discovered that Paid Memberships Pro is susceptible to a cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability. This issue stems from improper validation of requests that enables unauthorized users to manipulate the order of membership levels if they trick an admin into clicking a malicious link.

While a surface-level glance shows a relatively harmless issue, this exploit gives attackers an initial foothold to launch more dangerous follow-on attacks. The vulnerability is especially risky since membership level order often correlates to access permissions.

Risks & Impacts

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability lets attackers:

Reorder membership levels at will
Potentially elevate permissions by moving lower access levels up
Open the door for additional attacks like overriding other permission settings

Attackers can leverage an initial small compromise to eventually gain full admin access, steal data, deliver malware to your site visitors, and seriously disrupt your business.

How to Fix This Vulnerability

The good news is the Paid Memberships Pro team has already patched this CSRF exploit in version 2.12.8. Upgrading cleans up the flaw and restores your site security. Due to the severity and ease of exploiting this vulnerability, all users should upgrade immediately.

If you need help updating or want a full site audit to check for other vulnerabilities, our WordPress security team offers affordable website security services for small businesses.

Previous Vulnerabilities

Paid Memberships Pro has had 17 previous vulnerabilities reported since November 2014, indicating multiple avenues for potential compromise. While the developers responded quickly to patch this latest issue, staying on outdated versions leaves you in the crosshairs.

Stay on Top of Security Updates

Don't tackle WordPress security alone - the consequences of a breach are too great. At Your WP Guy, our managed WordPress maintenance services include layers of protection like auto-updates, malware scanning, firewalls and 24/7 monitoring by WordPress experts. We become your outsourced IT team.

Let's chat about migrating your site to our managed hosting so you can finally stop worrying about security issues. We'll fully audit and lock down your site as part of onboarding. Call us at 678-995-5169 to keep your business safe online.

Paid Memberships Pro Vulnerability – Cross-Site Request Forgery to Level Orders Update – CVE-2024-0624 | WordPress Plugin Vulnerability Report FAQs

What exactly is the vulnerability in Paid Memberships Pro?

The vulnerability is a cross-site request forgery (CSRF) issue that stems from improper validation of requests. This enables unauthorized users to manipulate the order of membership levels if they trick an admin into clicking on a malicious link. Successfully exploiting this vulnerability allows attackers to reorder membership levels at will.

Why is this vulnerability dangerous for my site?

While reordering memberships may seem harmless at first glance, it gives attackers an initial foothold to launch more serious follow-on attacks. Since membership level order often correlates with access permissions, hackers can elevate their permissions by moving lower access levels up. This then opens the door for them to override other permission settings, steal sensitive data, install malware, or cause disruption.

What could happen if my site got hacked due to this vulnerability?

Potential impacts include complete site takeover, data or funds theft, malware installation, denial of service attacks, reputation damage, search engine penalties, and legal liabilities. Skilled attackers leveraging vulnerabilities like this can quickly escalate access to damage or destroy your site and business.

How urgent is it to update Paid Memberships Pro?

I use an older version of the plugin. Am I still at risk?

Yes, any site running Paid Memberships Pro version 2.12.7 or earlier contains this CSRF vulnerability. The developer has patched the issue in version 2.12.8, so upgrading cleans up the vulnerability across all previously affected versions. Using an older unsupported version also opens your site to other unpatched flaws.

What should I do if my site was already hacked?

How can I check if my site has been compromised?

How much help will I need to update the plugin?

What other steps can I take to secure my site?

Beyond patching this specific plugin vulnerability, general best practices for securing WordPress include: enabling automatic background updates, limiting plugins, monitoring logs, setting up backups, using strong passwords, requiring multi-factor authentication, restricting admin access, and installing a web application firewall.

Who can I contact if I have more questions on securing my site?

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Posted in Security, Vulnerabilities and tagged Cross-Site Request Forgery, CSRF vulnerability, Cybersecurity, Paid Memberships Pro, Plugin Updates, potential impacts, remediating vulnerabilities, risk assessment, securing wordpress, Small Business Security, Web Security, Website Maintenance, Website Security, website vulnerabilities, WordPress, wordpress plugins, wordpress security