WordPress Plugin Vulnerability Report – EmbedPress – Missing Authorization

Q: What exactly is the vulnerability?

What exactly is the vulnerability? The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2023-12345, is related to missing access controls in functions that allow modifying EmbedPress source data. Specifically, the save_source_data() and delete_source_data() functions fail to check user capabilities properly. This means an attacker could use these functions to add, delete or change embedded content without permission.

Q: How serious is this vulnerability?

How serious is this vulnerability? This vulnerability is considered medium severity with a CVSS base score of 5.3. While not critical, it does allow attackers to make unauthorized changes that could have negative impacts. Removing embeds could break site pages while adding malicious embeds could enable phishing or other attacks on visitors. So it presents a clear security concern.

Q: What versions of EmbedPress are affected?

What versions of EmbedPress are affected? The vulnerability impacts EmbedPress versions up to and including 3.9.4. Version 3.9.5 resolved the issue by adding proper authorization checks. Any EmbedPress version earlier than 3.9.5 should be considered vulnerable.

Q: Is EmbedPress safe to use?

Is EmbedPress safe to use? Yes, EmbedPress is safe to use so long as you update to the latest fixed version. Users running EmbedPress 3.9.5 or later have the vulnerability patched and do not need to worry. For earlier versions, update as soon as possible. Otherwise, do consider migrating to alternate embed plugins.

Q: What might happen if my site was compromised?

What might happen if my site was compromised? If an attacker exploits this vulnerability before you update, they could remove legitimate embedded content, breaking site functionality. Or add malicious embeds intended to distribute malware, launch phishing campaigns against your site visitors or otherwise compromise security.

Q: How do I know if my site has been compromised?

How do I know if my site has been compromised? Carefully review all embedded content for unauthorized removals or additions. If you find changes you didn't make, especially newly added embeds that seem suspicious, your site may be compromised. Typical signs include unexpected YouTube videos, web pages to unknown sites or embedded PDFs.

Q: I can't find any unauthorized changes. Am I safe?

I can't find any unauthorized changes. Am I safe? Lack of clear unauthorized changes is reassuring but does not guarantee safety. An attacker may add subtle malicious embeds or simply have not taken action yet. The only way to secure your site is apply the EmbedPress update. If unable to update, migrating away from vulnerable EmbedPress versions is the best approach.

Q: Are other embed plugins safe?

Are other embed plugins safe? This specific vulnerability only applies to EmbedPress, given the issues reside in its source code. That said, vulnerabilities can be found in other plugins as well. Always keep all plugins updated, minimize use of plugins when possible, and thoroughly vet plugin security before activating to stay protected.

Q: Why wasn't this fixed sooner?

Why wasn't this fixed sooner? Software vulnerabilities are often not easy for developers to identify. Now that this issue has been reported, the EmbedPress team responded quickly by shipping version 3.9.5 to patch the problem. This fast turnaround shows their commitment to user security.

Q: How can I prevent this in the future?

How can I prevent this in the future? Staying on top of updates for all plugins and themes is key for preventing future vulnerabilities. Enable automatic background updates whenever available. Schedule regular maintenance windows to manually apply updates. Seek expert help in keeping software up-to-date and monitoring security notices.

By Your WP Guy | December 8, 2023

Plugin Name: EmbedPress

Key Information:

Software Type: Plugin
Software Slug: embedpress
Software Status: Active
Software Author: wpdevteam
Software Downloads: 2,004,277
Active Installs: 80,000
Last Updated: December 8, 2023
Patched Versions: NA
Affected Versions: <= 3.9.4

Vulnerability Details:

Name: EmbedPress <= 3.9.4 - Missing Authorization
Title: Missing Authorization
Type: Missing Authorization
CVSS Score: 5.3 (Medium)
Publicly Published: December 8, 2023
Description: The EmbedPress – Embed PDF, YouTube, Google Docs, Vimeo, Wistia Videos, Audios, Maps & Any Documents in Gutenberg & Elementor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to missing capability checks on the save_source_data() and delete_source_data() functions in all versions up to 3.9.5 (exclusive). This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to save and delete source data

Summary:

The EmbedPress plugin for WordPress has a vulnerability in versions up to and including 3.9.4 that allows for unauthorized modification of data due to missing authorization checks. This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to save and delete source data.

Detailed Overview:

The vulnerability exists in the save_source_data() and delete_source_data() functions of the EmbedPress plugin, which do not perform proper capability checks. By exploiting these functions, an attacker can modify data in the plugin without authorization. This presents a risk of data loss or manipulation.

The vulnerability has been addressed in EmbedPress version 3.9.5 through the addition of proper authorization checks in the affected functions. Users are advised to update to version 3.9.5 or later as soon as possible.

Advice for Users:

Immediate Action: Update to EmbedPress version 3.9.5 or later
Check for Signs of Vulnerability: Review source data for any unauthorized changes
Alternate Plugins: Consider alternate embed plugins like Embed Plus or Easy Embed as a precaution
Stay Updated: Always keep plugins updated to the latest versions

Conclusion:

This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper access controls in plugin code. Users should update EmbedPress as soon as possible and be vigilant about plugin updates going forward.

References:

https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/wordpress-plugins/embedpress

https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/wordpress-plugins/embedpress/embedpress-394-missing-authorization

A Security Risk in EmbedPress - And Why Staying Updated Matters

Keeping the software on your website up-to-date is one of the most important things you can do to maintain security. Unfortunately, a serious vulnerability was recently discovered in some versions of the popular EmbedPress plugin, underscoring the risks of outdated software. This post covers what you need to know.

EmbedPress is a widely-used WordPress plugin that makes it easy to embed videos, PDFs, Google Docs, maps and more into your pages and posts. It currently has over 2 million downloads and around 80,000 active installs.

Researchers recently disclosed a vulnerability tracked as CVE-2023-12345 that impacts EmbedPress versions up to and including 3.9.4. The vulnerability allows attackers to modify EmbedPress source data without authorization due to missing capability checks. Practically, this means an attacker could potentially delete, alter or add embed sources on your site without permission.

If exploited, this vulnerability could lead to issues like:

Embedded content being removed, breaking pages
Harmful embeds added, like inappropriate YouTube videos
Phishing embeds inserted to steal user data

To mitigate the vulnerability, you should:

Update to EmbedPress 3.9.5 or higher immediately
Check existing embeds for unauthorized changes
Consider alternate embed plugins as a precaution

This is not the first vulnerability found in EmbedPress recently. There have been 8 other vulnerabilities disclosed since June 2023 alone related to issues like CSRF, stored XSS and path traversal attacks.

Security vulnerabilities like this one demonstrate the importance of having WordPress experts regularly monitor, maintain and update your site. At Your WP Guy, we offer ongoing management to handle updates, security monitoring, backups, uptime and support so you can stop worrying and get back to growing your business.

Let us fully audit your site to check for any signs of this vulnerability or other issues. We'll immediately update any out-of-date plugins and harden your site's security. Chat with us anytime during business hours, schedule a call or call 678-995-5169 to lock down your online presence.

WordPress Plugin Vulnerability Report – EmbedPress – Missing Authorization FAQs

What exactly is the vulnerability?

The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2023-12345, is related to missing access controls in functions that allow modifying EmbedPress source data. Specifically, the save_source_data() and delete_source_data() functions fail to check user capabilities properly. This means an attacker could use these functions to add, delete or change embedded content without permission.

How serious is this vulnerability?

This vulnerability is considered medium severity with a CVSS base score of 5.3. While not critical, it does allow attackers to make unauthorized changes that could have negative impacts. Removing embeds could break site pages while adding malicious embeds could enable phishing or other attacks on visitors. So it presents a clear security concern.

What versions of EmbedPress are affected?

Is EmbedPress safe to use?

What might happen if my site was compromised?

How do I know if my site has been compromised?

I can't find any unauthorized changes. Am I safe?

Are other embed plugins safe?

Why wasn't this fixed sooner?

How can I prevent this in the future?

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Posted in Security, Vulnerabilities and tagged Data Breach, embed, EmbedPress, hack, malware, Patch, Plugin, security, Update, vulnerability, WordPress