CVE-2024-10591: HubSpot WooCommerce Privilege Escalation

CVE-2024-10591 Overview

CVE-2024-10591 affects the MWB HubSpot for WooCommerce plugin for WordPress, a CRM, abandoned cart, email marketing, and analytics integration developed by MakeWebBetter. All versions up to and including 1.5.9 contain a missing authorization flaw [CWE-862] in the hubwoo_save_updates() function. Authenticated users with Contributor-level access or above can update arbitrary WordPress options. Attackers leverage this to enable open user registration and set the default role to administrator, granting full site takeover.

Critical Impact
Contributor-level attackers can escalate to administrator by modifying WordPress core options, resulting in complete compromise of the affected site.

Affected Products

MakeWebBetter HubSpot for WooCommerce plugin versions 1.5.9 and earlier
WordPress sites running the MWB HubSpot for WooCommerce CRM integration
WooCommerce stores using the plugin for abandoned cart and marketing automation

Discovery Timeline

2025-01-30 - CVE-2024-10591 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-10591

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a privilege escalation flaw rooted in a missing capability check inside the plugin's AJAX handler. The hubwoo_save_updates() function, located in includes/class-hubwoo-ajax-handler.php, processes update requests without verifying that the caller holds appropriate administrative capabilities. Because WordPress exposes AJAX endpoints to any authenticated user by default, low-privileged accounts can reach the handler and invoke option updates.

Once the handler executes, it calls update_option() against attacker-controlled keys and values. WordPress stores critical site configuration in the wp_options table, including users_can_register and default_role. Setting users_can_register to 1 and default_role to administrator allows the attacker to register a new administrative account through the standard WordPress registration flow.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing authorization [CWE-862]. The hubwoo_save_updates() function does not call current_user_can() with an administrative capability such as manage_options, nor does it enforce a matching nonce scoped to a privileged action. Any authenticated session at Contributor level or higher satisfies the implicit access requirement of the AJAX endpoint.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires an authenticated account with Contributor privileges or greater on a WordPress site running a vulnerable version of the plugin. The attacker sends a crafted POST request to the plugin's AJAX endpoint with parameters that specify the target option name and value. After enabling registration and elevating the default role, the attacker submits the WordPress registration form to create an administrator account. See the WordPress Plugin Code Review for the vulnerable code path and the Wordfence Vulnerability Analysis for further technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-10591

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected changes to the users_can_register or default_role values in the wp_options table.
New administrator accounts created shortly after a Contributor-level login event.
POST requests to admin-ajax.php from Contributor accounts targeting hubwoo_save_updates actions.

Detection Strategies

Audit the wp_options table for modifications to registration-related keys and compare against known-good baselines.
Monitor WordPress user creation events and correlate them with role changes and prior low-privileged authentication activity.
Inspect web server access logs for AJAX calls invoking the hubwoo_save_updates action from non-administrator sessions.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable WordPress activity logging to record role changes, option updates, and new user registrations.
Alert on default_role transitions to administrator and on users_can_register flips from 0 to 1.
Review Contributor and Author account activity for AJAX traffic patterns inconsistent with editorial workflows.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-10591

Immediate Actions Required

Update the MWB HubSpot for WooCommerce plugin to a version later than 1.5.9 that includes the fix from WordPress Changeset 3231984.
Audit all administrator accounts and remove any that cannot be attributed to legitimate users.
Reset credentials for Contributor-level and higher accounts and enforce multi-factor authentication.

Patch Information

MakeWebBetter addressed the missing capability check in the plugin repository, as documented in WordPress Changeset 3231984. Administrators should upgrade to the patched release available through the WordPress plugin directory. Verify the installed version in wp-admin under Plugins after upgrade.

Workarounds

Deactivate the MWB HubSpot for WooCommerce plugin until the patched version can be deployed.
Restrict Contributor and Author role assignments to trusted users only and review recent role grants.
Set users_can_register to 0 and default_role to subscriber in wp_options, then monitor for unauthorized changes.

bash

# Verify current WordPress registration settings via WP-CLI
wp option get users_can_register
wp option get default_role

# Enforce safe defaults
wp option update users_can_register 0
wp option update default_role subscriber

# Confirm plugin version and update
wp plugin get makewebbetter-hubspot-for-woocommerce --field=version
wp plugin update makewebbetter-hubspot-for-woocommerce