CVE-2024-12821
Published: 30 January 2025
Summary
CVE-2024-12821 is a high-severity Missing Authorization (CWE-862) vulnerability in Userproplugin Media Manager. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Privilege Escalation (T1068); ranked at the 25.0th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 AC-3 (Access Enforcement) and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation).
Deeper analysis
CVE-2024-12821 affects the Media Manager for UserPro plugin for WordPress in all versions up to and including 3.12.0. The vulnerability arises from a missing capability check on the upm_upload_media() function, enabling unauthorized modification of data that leads to privilege escalation. It is classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization) and carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H), indicating high severity due to its network accessibility, low complexity, and potential for high impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Authenticated attackers with Subscriber-level access or higher can exploit this issue over the network without user interaction. By calling the vulnerable function, they can update arbitrary WordPress site options, such as modifying the default role for new user registrations to administrator and enabling registration. This allows attackers to self-register with administrative privileges, achieving full site compromise.
Advisories from Wordfence provide detailed threat intelligence on the vulnerability, while the plugin's CodeCanyon page offers additional context on the affected component. Security practitioners should consult these references for mitigation guidance, including potential patches beyond version 3.12.0, and audit sites using the plugin for unauthorized option changes.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2024-51126
Vulnerability details
The Media Manager for UserPro plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data that can lead to privilege escalation due to a missing capability check on the upm_upload_media() function in all versions up to, and including, 3.12.0. This…
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makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to update arbitrary options on the WordPress site. This can be leveraged to update the default role for registration to administrator and enable user registration for attackers to gain administrative user access to a vulnerable site.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Missing authorization on option update enables authenticated priv esc to admin and arbitrary account creation via role modification.
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Enforces approved authorizations to prevent low-privilege authenticated users from modifying arbitrary WordPress options due to the missing capability check.
Limits privileges to the minimum necessary, reducing the potential for privilege escalation even if initial access is gained by subscribers.
Requires identification, reporting, and correction of flaws like the missing authorization in the plugin, preventing exploitation through timely patching.