CVE-2024-13655

High

Published: 07 March 2025

Published

07 March 2025

Modified

15 April 2026

KEV Added

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Patch

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CVSS Score 8.1 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H

EPSS Score 0.0013 32.3th percentile

Risk Priority 16 60% EPSS · 20% KEV · 20% CVSS

Summary

CVE-2024-13655 is a high-severity Missing Authorization (CWE-862) vulnerability in Themeforest (inferred from references). Its CVSS base score is 8.1 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked at the 32.3th 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 AC-6 (Least Privilege).

Threat & Defense at a Glance

What attackers do: exploitation maps to Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190) and 1 other technique. What defenders deploy: see the NIST 800-53 controls recommended below.

Threat & Defense Details

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5)AI

AC-3 Access Enforcement good match

prevent

Enforces approved authorizations to prevent unauthorized data modification due to the missing capability check in the propanel_of_ajax_callback() function.

AC-6 Least Privilege good match

prevent

Employs least privilege to restrict Subscriber-level users from deleting arbitrary WordPress option values that could lead to denial of service.

SI-2 Flaw Remediation good match

prevent

Requires identification, reporting, and timely remediation of the flaw in the Flex Mag theme to eliminate the missing authorization vulnerability.

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access

Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.

attack.mitre.org →

T1499.004 Application or System Exploitation Impact

Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities that can cause an application or system to crash and deny availability to users.

attack.mitre.org →

Why these techniques?

Vulnerability in public-facing WordPress theme allows authenticated attackers to delete arbitrary options via missing authorization check, directly enabling exploitation of the web application (T1190) to achieve denial of service through application/system exploitation (T1499.004).

Confidence: HIGH · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v19.0

NVD Description

The Flex Mag - Responsive WordPress News Theme theme for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data that can lead to a denial of service due to a missing capability check on the propanel_of_ajax_callback() function in all versions up…

to, and including, 3.5.2. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to delete arbitrary option values on the WordPress site. This can be leveraged to delete an option that would create an error on the site and deny service to legitimate users.

Deeper analysisAI

CVE-2024-13655 is a vulnerability in the Flex Mag - Responsive WordPress News Theme for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 3.5.2. It arises from a missing capability check in the propanel_of_ajax_callback() function, enabling unauthorized modification of data that can result in a denial of service. The issue, published on 2025-03-07, carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.1 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H) and is classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization).

Authenticated attackers with Subscriber-level access or higher can exploit this vulnerability over the network with low complexity and no user interaction required. They can delete arbitrary option values on the WordPress site, which can be leveraged to target specific options that trigger site errors, thereby denying service to legitimate users.

Advisories and further details are available from references including the theme's page on ThemeForest (https://themeforest.net/item/flex-mag-responsive-wordpress-news-theme/12772303) and Wordfence threat intelligence (https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/23f53ff1-f0bc-4ad3-9b9e-cf365f064066?source=cve).