CVE-2024-21751 Overview
CVE-2024-21751 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability [CWE-862] in the RabbitLoader WordPress plugin developed by Yoginetwork. The flaw affects all plugin versions from initial release through 2.19.13. Authenticated attackers with low-level privileges can invoke restricted plugin functionality because access control checks are missing on sensitive actions. Successful exploitation compromises the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected WordPress site. Patchstack published the advisory documenting this broken access control issue.
Critical Impact
Low-privilege authenticated attackers can bypass authorization checks in RabbitLoader to invoke restricted plugin functionality, resulting in high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the WordPress site.
Affected Products
- Yoginetwork RabbitLoader WordPress plugin
- All versions from initial release through 2.19.13
- WordPress sites with the RabbitLoader plugin installed and activated
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-06-10 - CVE-2024-21751 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-21751
Vulnerability Analysis
RabbitLoader is a WordPress performance and caching plugin. The vulnerability stems from missing authorization checks on plugin endpoints that perform privileged actions. An authenticated user with minimal privileges, such as a subscriber, can call these endpoints and execute operations that should be restricted to administrators.
Because the plugin does not enforce capability checks or role validation, the attack does not require social engineering or user interaction. The attacker only needs a valid low-privilege account, which is trivial to obtain on sites permitting user registration. Exploitation results in a full compromise of the plugin's protected functionality, with downstream impact on the WordPress installation.
Root Cause
The root cause is a Missing Authorization weakness [CWE-862]. Sensitive functions exposed by the plugin fail to validate whether the caller possesses the required WordPress capability before executing the action. WordPress provides mechanisms such as current_user_can() and nonce verification for enforcing access control, and these checks are either absent or improperly applied on affected code paths in RabbitLoader through version 2.19.13.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based over standard HTTP or HTTPS to the WordPress site. An attacker authenticates using any valid low-privileged account and sends crafted requests to the vulnerable RabbitLoader AJAX or REST endpoints. Because authorization is not enforced server-side, the plugin processes the request as if the caller were authorized. The vulnerability requires no user interaction from an administrator or other victim.
See the Patchstack Vulnerability Advisory for further technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-21751
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected requests from low-privileged authenticated users to RabbitLoader plugin endpoints under /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php or the plugin's REST routes
- Unauthorized configuration changes to RabbitLoader caching or optimization settings
- New or modified plugin cache artifacts on disk that do not correspond to administrator activity
- WordPress audit log entries showing subscriber or contributor accounts invoking privileged actions
Detection Strategies
- Inspect web server access logs for POST requests to RabbitLoader action handlers originating from non-administrative session cookies
- Correlate WordPress user role with the action being invoked and alert on mismatches
- Deploy WordPress security plugins that provide capability-based request auditing
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor for spikes in authenticated requests to RabbitLoader endpoints following mass user registration events
- Track plugin configuration changes and cache purge operations, correlating them with the invoking user account
- Alert on newly created low-privilege accounts that immediately interact with plugin AJAX handlers
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-21751
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the RabbitLoader plugin to a version later than 2.19.13 as soon as a fixed release is available from Yoginetwork
- Audit existing WordPress user accounts and remove unnecessary subscriber, contributor, or author accounts
- Disable open user registration on the WordPress site if it is not required for business operations
- Review WordPress and plugin logs for evidence of exploitation targeting RabbitLoader endpoints
Patch Information
Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Advisory for the latest fixed version information. Sites running RabbitLoader 2.19.13 or earlier are vulnerable and should be updated immediately once a patched release is published.
Workarounds
- Deactivate and remove the RabbitLoader plugin until a patched version is installed
- Restrict access to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php at the web application firewall (WAF) level for RabbitLoader-specific actions from non-administrator sessions
- Enforce strong authentication and multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all WordPress accounts to reduce the pool of usable low-privilege credentials
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
