CVE-2024-6482
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in the Login with phone number WordPress plugin allows authenticated attackers with Subscriber-level access or higher to escalate their privileges to Administrator or any other role. It affects all versions up to 1.7.49 due to insufficient validation in the 'lwp_update_password_action' function. WordPress sites using this plugin are vulnerable.
💻 Affected Systems
- Login with phone number WordPress plugin
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers gain full administrative control over the WordPress site, allowing them to install malicious plugins/themes, modify content, steal data, or establish persistent backdoors.
Likely Case
Attackers with basic user accounts elevate to Administrator and compromise the site's integrity and confidentiality.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls and monitoring, privilege escalation attempts are detected and blocked before full compromise.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access (Subscriber or higher). The vulnerability is well-documented with code references available.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Version after 1.7.49
Vendor Advisory: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3129185/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Login with phone number' plugin. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available, or manually update to latest version. 5. Verify plugin is updated to version after 1.7.49.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable vulnerable plugin
allTemporarily disable the Login with phone number plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate login-with-phone-number
Restrict user registration
allDisable new user registration to prevent attackers from creating accounts
Update WordPress Settings > General > Membership to uncheck 'Anyone can register'
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Remove the Login with phone number plugin completely from the WordPress installation
- Implement strict user role monitoring and alert on any role change events
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel > Plugins > Installed Plugins for 'Login with phone number' plugin version 1.7.49 or earlierCheck Version:
wp plugin get login-with-phone-number --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify plugin version is greater than 1.7.49 in WordPress admin panel📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- WordPress user role change events in audit logs
- Unexpected wp_capabilities user meta updates
- Multiple failed privilege escalation attempts
Network Indicators:
- POST requests to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with action=lwp_update_password_action
- Unusual admin activity from previously non-admin users
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress" AND (event="role_change" OR action="lwp_update_password_action")