CVE-2024-32705
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a Missing Authorization vulnerability in the ARForms WordPress plugin that allows authenticated subscribers to arbitrarily activate or deactivate other plugins. This affects all WordPress sites running ARForms versions up to 6.4, potentially enabling privilege escalation and unauthorized plugin manipulation.
💻 Affected Systems
- ARForms WordPress Plugin
📦 What is this software?
Arforms by Reputeinfosystems
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Subscriber-level attackers could deactivate security plugins, activate malicious plugins, or chain with other vulnerabilities to achieve full site compromise.
Likely Case
Attackers with subscriber accounts could disrupt site functionality by deactivating critical plugins or activate plugins with known vulnerabilities.
If Mitigated
With proper role-based access controls and plugin hardening, impact is limited to plugin management disruption without privilege escalation.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires subscriber-level credentials. Public proof-of-concept demonstrates the authorization bypass.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 6.5 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/arforms/wordpress-arforms-plugin-6-4-subscriber-arbitrary-plugin-activation-deactivation-vulnerability
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find ARForms and click 'Update Now'. 4. Verify version is 6.5 or higher.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Remove Subscriber Access
allTemporarily disable or remove all subscriber accounts until patching is complete.
Disable ARForms Plugin
allDeactivate ARForms plugin if not essential for site functionality.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict role-based access controls and monitor subscriber activity
- Use web application firewall rules to block plugin activation/deactivation requests from non-admin users
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel > Plugins > Installed Plugins for ARForms version. If version is 6.4 or lower, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin list --name=arforms --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
After updating, verify ARForms version shows 6.5 or higher in WordPress plugins list.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- WordPress logs showing plugin activation/deactivation by subscriber users
- Unauthorized POST requests to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with action=arforms_activate_plugin
Network Indicators:
- HTTP POST requests to plugin activation endpoints from non-admin user agents
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("activate_plugin" OR "deactivate_plugin") AND user_role="subscriber"🔗 References
- https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/arforms/wordpress-arforms-plugin-6-4-subscriber-arbitrary-plugin-activation-deactivation-vulnerability?_s_id=cve
- https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/arforms/wordpress-arforms-plugin-6-4-subscriber-arbitrary-plugin-activation-deactivation-vulnerability?_s_id=cve
