Overview
The User Activity Tracking and Log WordPress plugin, prior to version 4.1.4, has a critical vulnerability wherein clients’ IP addresses can be manipulated due to the retrieval of these addresses from potentially untrusted headers. This vulnerability affects any website utilizing this WordPress plugin, potentially compromising system security and leading to data leakage. It is essential to address this issue promptly to prevent exploitations.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2024-0970
Severity: High (CVSS: 7.5)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise, potential data leakage
Affected Products
Escape the Surveillance Era
Most apps won’t tell you the truth.
They’re part of the problem.
Phone numbers. Emails. Profiles. Logs.
It’s all fuel for surveillance.
Ameeba Chat gives you a way out.
- • No phone number
- • No email
- • No personal info
- • Anonymous aliases
- • End-to-end encrypted
Chat without a trace.
Product | Affected Versions
User Activity Tracking and Log WordPress Plugin | Before 4.1.4
How the Exploit Works
The exploit works by an attacker manipulating the client’s IP address. This is possible because the plugin retrieves IP addresses from untrusted headers, which can be tampered with. An attacker can use a manipulated IP address to mask malicious activity, gain unauthorized access, or leak sensitive data from the system.
Conceptual Example Code
An example of a potential attack using this vulnerability might look something like this:
POST /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
X-Forwarded-For: [Attacker's IP]
{ "action": "uat_track", "target": "admin", "malicious_payload": "..." }In this scenario, the attacker uses the X-Forwarded-For header to inject a manipulated IP address and send a malicious payload via the ‘uat_track’ action.
Mitigation Guidance
To mitigate this vulnerability, users are advised to update the User Activity Tracking and Log WordPress plugin to version 4.1.4 or later, as this version addresses the vulnerability. In cases where an immediate update cannot be implemented, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can provide temporary mitigation. However, these measures do not fully resolve the issue and are not substitutes for applying the vendor patch.
