CVE-2024-31275: Metagauss EventPrime Auth Bypass Flaw

CVE-2024-31275 Overview

CVE-2024-31275 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability affecting the EventPrime WordPress plugin developed by Metagauss. This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to manipulate booking prices, potentially resulting in unauthorized financial transactions and complete compromise of the event booking system. The flaw exists in versions up to and including 3.3.4 of the EventPrime plugin.

Critical Impact

This Missing Authorization vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate booking prices without authentication, potentially leading to complete compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected WordPress installation.

Affected Products

• Metagauss EventPrime versions from n/a through 3.3.4
• WordPress sites using the EventPrime Event Calendar Management plugin
• Any website relying on EventPrime for event booking and payment processing

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-06-09 - CVE-2024-31275 published to NVD
• 2024-11-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-31275

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization), indicating that the EventPrime plugin fails to properly verify user authorization before processing certain requests. The flaw specifically affects the booking price manipulation functionality, where the plugin does not adequately check whether the requesting user has the appropriate permissions to modify pricing data.

The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication and can be exploited remotely over the network with low attack complexity. An attacker can exploit this weakness to bypass normal pricing controls, potentially allowing them to purchase event tickets at arbitrary prices or even for free.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2024-31275 lies in insufficient authorization checks within the EventPrime plugin's booking workflow. The plugin fails to implement proper capability checks or nonce verification for price-related operations. When processing booking requests, the application accepts user-supplied price values without validating that the requester has administrative privileges to set or modify prices. This is a classic case of improper access control where business-critical functions are exposed without appropriate authentication or authorization gates.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and requires no prior authentication or user interaction. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by intercepting or crafting booking requests to the WordPress site running the vulnerable EventPrime plugin. By manipulating the price parameters in the booking request, the attacker can arbitrarily set the booking price to any value, including zero.

The exploitation process typically involves identifying the EventPrime booking endpoint, analyzing the request structure to locate price-related parameters, and then submitting modified requests with manipulated price values. Since no authorization checks are performed, the backend processes these requests as legitimate, allowing attackers to complete bookings at fraudulent prices.

For detailed technical information about this vulnerability, see the Patchstack Vulnerability Advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-31275

Indicators of Compromise

• Booking transactions completed at prices significantly lower than the listed event prices
• Unusual patterns of bookings from the same IP address or user agent
• HTTP request logs showing modified or suspicious price parameters in booking endpoints
• Financial discrepancies between expected revenue and actual payment receipts

Detection Strategies

• Monitor WordPress access logs for anomalous POST requests to EventPrime booking endpoints
• Implement server-side price validation that cross-references submitted prices against stored event prices
• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block parameter tampering attempts
• Review booking records for transactions where the paid amount differs from the event's configured price

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for all EventPrime plugin activities, particularly booking and payment operations
• Set up alerts for bookings completed at zero or significantly reduced prices
• Implement real-time monitoring of financial transaction data for anomalies
• Regularly audit completed bookings against expected pricing structures

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-31275

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the EventPrime plugin to a version newer than 3.3.4 that contains the security fix
• Review recent booking transactions for signs of price manipulation or fraudulent activity
• Consider temporarily disabling the EventPrime booking functionality until the patch is applied
• Implement server-side price validation as an additional security layer

Patch Information

Organizations using the EventPrime WordPress plugin should immediately update to a patched version that addresses this Missing Authorization vulnerability. Consult the Patchstack Vulnerability Advisory for the latest patch information and remediation guidance from the vendor.

Workarounds

• Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to validate and sanitize booking request parameters
• Add custom server-side validation to verify that submitted prices match the stored event prices before processing bookings
• Temporarily restrict access to booking functionality to authenticated users only
• Monitor all booking transactions manually until the official patch can be applied

# WordPress CLI command to update EventPrime plugin
wp plugin update eventprime-event-calendar-management

# Verify current installed version
wp plugin get eventprime-event-calendar-management --field=version

# Temporarily deactivate plugin if immediate patching is not possible
wp plugin deactivate eventprime-event-calendar-management