CVE-2024-23518
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a Missing Authorization vulnerability in the ACF Photo Gallery Field WordPress plugin. It allows unauthorized users to access or modify photo gallery content that should be restricted. WordPress sites using vulnerable versions of this plugin are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Navneil Naicker ACF Photo Gallery Field 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
Unauthorized users could delete, modify, or access private photo galleries containing sensitive images, potentially leading to data exposure or content destruction.
Likely Case
Unauthorized users accessing or modifying photo gallery content they shouldn't have permissions for, potentially exposing private images or disrupting gallery functionality.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls and authentication checks, impact would be limited to authorized users only accessing their permitted content.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires understanding of WordPress plugin structure but no special tools or advanced techniques.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 2.7 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/navz-photo-gallery/wordpress-acf-photo-gallery-field-plugin-2-5-broken-access-control-vulnerability
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'ACF Photo Gallery Field'. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available. 5. If no update appears, manually download version 2.7+ from WordPress repository and replace plugin files.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Plugin
allTemporarily disable the vulnerable plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate navz-photo-gallery
Restrict Access
allImplement additional access controls at web server level
# Add to .htaccess for Apache:
<Files "navz-photo-gallery/*">
Require valid-user
</Files>
# Add to nginx config:
location ~ /wp-content/plugins/navz-photo-gallery/ {
auth_basic "Restricted";
auth_basic_user_file /etc/nginx/.htpasswd;
}
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Remove the plugin entirely if not essential for site functionality
- Implement strict firewall rules to restrict access to plugin directories and admin interfaces
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel > Plugins > Installed Plugins for 'ACF Photo Gallery Field' version 2.6 or earlierCheck Version:
wp plugin get navz-photo-gallery --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify plugin version is 2.7 or later in WordPress admin panel📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unauthorized access attempts to /wp-content/plugins/navz-photo-gallery/
- Unexpected POST/GET requests to plugin endpoints from unauthenticated users
Network Indicators:
- Unusual traffic patterns to plugin-specific URLs from unauthorized IPs
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("navz-photo-gallery" OR "acf-photo-gallery") AND (status=403 OR status=401)🔗 References
- https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/navz-photo-gallery/wordpress-acf-photo-gallery-field-plugin-2-5-broken-access-control-vulnerability?_s_id=cve
- https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/navz-photo-gallery/wordpress-acf-photo-gallery-field-plugin-2-5-broken-access-control-vulnerability?_s_id=cve
