CVE-2024-35735: WP Time Slots Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2024-35735 Overview

CVE-2024-35735 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability affecting the WP Time Slots Booking Form plugin for WordPress, developed by CodePeople. This broken access control flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to access protected functionality within the plugin without proper authorization checks, potentially compromising the integrity of booking data and site operations.

Critical Impact

This vulnerability enables unauthenticated network-based attackers to bypass authorization controls with no user interaction required, potentially leading to complete compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of booking data and related site functions.

Affected Products

• CodePeople WP Time Slots Booking Form versions up to and including 1.2.11
• WordPress installations running vulnerable versions of the plugin

Discovery Timeline

• June 10, 2024 - CVE-2024-35735 published to NVD
• November 21, 2024 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-35735

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from a Missing Authorization weakness (CWE-862) in the WP Time Slots Booking Form plugin. The affected plugin fails to properly verify that requests to protected functionality are made by authorized users, allowing unauthenticated attackers to perform actions that should be restricted to authenticated administrators or authorized roles.

The vulnerability is network-accessible and requires no user interaction or special privileges to exploit. This makes it particularly dangerous in internet-facing WordPress deployments where the plugin is active.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2024-35735 is the absence of proper authorization checks on sensitive plugin functions. When handling certain requests, the plugin does not verify whether the requesting user has the appropriate permissions to perform the requested action. This broken access control pattern allows any unauthenticated user to invoke functionality that should be restricted, bypassing the intended security boundaries of the WordPress role system.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests targeting the vulnerable plugin endpoints on a WordPress site. Since no authentication or special privileges are required, and no user interaction is needed, exploitation can be automated and performed remotely against any site running the vulnerable plugin version. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to manipulate booking data, access sensitive information, or disrupt booking operations.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-35735

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected modifications to booking form entries or time slot configurations
• Suspicious HTTP requests to WP Time Slots Booking Form plugin endpoints from unauthenticated sources
• Anomalous database entries in booking-related tables without corresponding legitimate user sessions
• Web server logs showing repeated requests to plugin-specific AJAX handlers or admin functions

Detection Strategies

• Monitor WordPress access logs for requests to the wp-time-slots-booking-form plugin directory from unauthenticated users
• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block unauthorized access attempts to plugin endpoints
• Review WordPress audit logs for unauthorized changes to booking configurations or data
• Deploy endpoint detection solutions to identify exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging on WordPress installations to capture all requests to plugin endpoints
• Set up alerts for access attempts to administrative functions without valid authentication tokens
• Regularly audit booking data integrity and compare against expected baseline values
• Monitor for anomalous traffic patterns targeting WordPress plugin directories

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-35735

Immediate Actions Required

• Update WP Time Slots Booking Form plugin to a version newer than 1.2.11 that addresses this vulnerability
• Temporarily disable the WP Time Slots Booking Form plugin if an immediate update is not possible
• Review booking data and system logs for signs of unauthorized access or manipulation
• Implement additional access controls at the web server or WAF level to restrict access to plugin endpoints

Patch Information

Organizations should apply the latest security update from CodePeople for the WP Time Slots Booking Form plugin. Check the Patchstack Vulnerability Database Entry for the latest information on available patches and remediation guidance.

The update addresses the missing authorization checks by implementing proper capability verification before allowing access to protected plugin functionality.

Workarounds

• Temporarily deactivate the WP Time Slots Booking Form plugin until the patch can be applied
• Implement IP-based access restrictions to limit who can reach WordPress admin and AJAX endpoints
• Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to block suspicious requests targeting plugin functionality
• Consider implementing additional authentication layers for sensitive booking operations