CVE-2024-31423 Overview
CVE-2024-31423 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability [CWE-862] affecting the Alex Volkov WP Accessibility Helper (WAH) plugin for WordPress. The flaw exists in all versions up to and including 0.6.2.5. Authenticated users with low privileges can invoke restricted plugin functionality because the code fails to verify caller authorization. Successful exploitation can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected WordPress site.
Critical Impact
An authenticated attacker with minimal privileges can bypass access controls in the WP Accessibility Helper plugin and perform actions reserved for higher-privileged users on the WordPress site.
Affected Products
- Alex Volkov WP Accessibility Helper (WAH) plugin for WordPress
- All versions from unspecified initial release through 0.6.2.5
- WordPress sites with the WAH plugin installed and activated
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-06-09 - CVE-2024-31423 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-31423
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is classified under CWE-862: Missing Authorization. The WP Accessibility Helper plugin exposes one or more actions that lack proper capability or role checks. As a result, any authenticated user, including low-privileged accounts such as Subscriber, can call functionality that should be restricted to administrators.
The attack is network-reachable and requires low complexity. The attacker must hold valid credentials but does not need administrator privileges. No user interaction is required to complete the attack, and exploitation impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the WordPress site.
Root Cause
The plugin's request handlers do not enforce current_user_can() capability checks or equivalent authorization logic before executing privileged operations. WordPress AJAX endpoints registered through wp_ajax_* hooks are accessible to any logged-in user by default. Without an explicit capability check inside each handler, low-privileged users can invoke administrative functions.
Attack Vector
An attacker registers or compromises a low-privileged WordPress account on a target site running WAH 0.6.2.5 or earlier. The attacker then issues an authenticated HTTP request directly to a vulnerable plugin endpoint, such as an admin-ajax.php action registered by WAH. Because the endpoint does not validate the caller's role, the request executes with the privileges intended for administrators. See the Patchstack advisory for technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-31423
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected changes to WP Accessibility Helper plugin settings or configuration entries in the wp_options table
- HTTP POST requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php referencing WAH plugin actions from accounts without administrative roles
- New or modified WordPress content, options, or files following requests from Subscriber-level accounts
Detection Strategies
- Audit WordPress access logs for authenticated requests to WAH endpoints originating from non-administrator user IDs
- Inventory installed WordPress plugins and flag any instance of WP Accessibility Helper at version 0.6.2.5 or earlier
- Correlate WordPress user role assignments with observed AJAX action calls to identify privilege mismatches
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable WordPress audit logging to capture role changes, option updates, and plugin actions with the invoking user identity
- Monitor for new user registrations followed shortly by AJAX calls to WAH plugin endpoints
- Alert on modifications to accessibility-related plugin settings performed by non-administrator accounts
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-31423
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all WordPress installations running WP Accessibility Helper and confirm the installed version
- Deactivate the WP Accessibility Helper plugin on any site running version 0.6.2.5 or earlier until a fixed version is installed
- Review WordPress user accounts and remove or disable any unused low-privileged accounts to reduce the exploitable user base
Patch Information
No vendor-supplied fixed version is listed in the enriched CVE data. Consult the Patchstack advisory for WP Accessibility Helper for the current remediation status and update to the latest available plugin release once the vendor issues a patched build.
Workarounds
- Deactivate and remove the WP Accessibility Helper plugin until an authorized patched version is confirmed
- Restrict new user registration on affected WordPress sites to prevent attackers from provisioning low-privileged accounts
- Deploy a web application firewall rule to block unauthenticated and low-privileged access to WAH-specific admin-ajax.php actions
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
