CVE-2024-12293
📋 TL;DR
The User Role Editor WordPress plugin has a CSRF vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to modify user roles, including granting administrator privileges, by tricking an administrator into clicking a malicious link. All WordPress sites using this plugin up to version 4.64.3 are affected. This can lead to complete site compromise.
💻 Affected Systems
- User Role Editor WordPress Plugin
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete site takeover where attackers gain administrator access, install backdoors, steal data, deface the site, or use it for further attacks.
Likely Case
Attackers escalate privileges to administrator, then install malicious plugins/themes, create backdoor accounts, or modify site content.
If Mitigated
With proper CSRF protections and admin awareness, exploitation requires social engineering success, reducing likelihood but not eliminating risk.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires social engineering to trick an administrator, but the technical exploit is simple once the victim clicks.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 4.64.4 and later
Vendor Advisory: https://wordpress.org/plugins/user-role-editor/#developers
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find User Role Editor. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available, or manually update to version 4.64.4+. 5. Verify update completes successfully.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable User Role Editor Plugin
allTemporarily deactivate the plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate user-role-editor
Implement CSRF Protection at Web Application Firewall
allConfigure WAF to block requests lacking proper nonce validation for user role modifications
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict access controls limiting admin panel access to trusted IPs only
- Educate administrators about phishing risks and implement mandatory security awareness training
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin → Plugins → User Role Editor → Version. If version is 4.64.3 or lower, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get user-role-editor --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
After updating, confirm User Role Editor version is 4.64.4 or higher in WordPress admin panel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual user role changes in WordPress logs
- Administrator privilege escalation events
- CSRF attack patterns in web server logs
Network Indicators:
- HTTP POST requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with action=update_roles without proper nonce
- Suspicious referrer headers in admin requests
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("update_roles" OR "user role changed") AND NOT user="legitimate_admin"🔗 References
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/user-role-editor/trunk/includes/classes/grant-roles.php#L184
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/user-role-editor/trunk/includes/classes/grant-roles.php#L187
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3208193/
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/user-role-editor/#developers
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/6f359d02-d4ce-4045-9e79-ae0f92b84766?source=cve
