CVE-2024-37463: CRM Perks Forms Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2024-37463 Overview

CVE-2024-37463 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability affecting the CRM Perks Forms WordPress plugin. This Broken Access Control flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to access functionality that should be restricted by Access Control Lists (ACLs), potentially compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of WordPress sites running the vulnerable plugin.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can bypass authorization controls to access restricted functionality in CRM Perks Forms, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or complete site compromise.

Affected Products

• CRM Perks Forms plugin for WordPress versions through 1.1.5
• WordPress sites utilizing CRM Perks Forms for form management
• CRM integrations connected through the CRM Perks Forms plugin

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-11-01 - CVE-2024-37463 published to NVD
• 2025-02-07 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-37463

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from a Missing Authorization weakness (CWE-862) in the CRM Perks Forms WordPress plugin. The plugin fails to properly verify user permissions before allowing access to sensitive functionality, enabling attackers to bypass intended access controls without authentication.

The flaw allows remote attackers to access administrative or restricted features through the network without requiring any privileges or user interaction. This type of Broken Access Control vulnerability is particularly dangerous in WordPress plugins because it can expose form submission data, configuration settings, and potentially provide a foothold for further attacks against the WordPress installation.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2024-37463 is insufficient authorization checks within the CRM Perks Forms plugin. The plugin's code paths that handle sensitive operations do not properly verify that the requesting user has the appropriate permissions or capabilities before processing the request. This architectural flaw means that ACL restrictions are not consistently enforced across all plugin functionality.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based, requiring no authentication, privileges, or user interaction. An attacker can exploit this flaw by sending crafted HTTP requests directly to vulnerable WordPress sites running CRM Perks Forms version 1.1.5 or earlier.

The exploitation process involves identifying WordPress installations running the vulnerable plugin and then crafting requests to access functionality that should be protected by authorization controls. Due to the missing authorization checks, these requests are processed without verifying the attacker's permissions.

For detailed technical information about this vulnerability, refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-37463

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual HTTP requests targeting CRM Perks Forms plugin endpoints from unauthenticated sources
• Unexpected access to form configuration or submission data without proper authentication
• Log entries showing access to plugin administrative functions without corresponding WordPress login events
• Modified form configurations or settings without authorized administrative actions

Detection Strategies

• Monitor WordPress access logs for requests to CRM Perks Forms plugin endpoints that bypass authentication
• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block exploitation attempts targeting the plugin
• Enable detailed audit logging for WordPress plugin actions to identify unauthorized access patterns
• Use security plugins to monitor for suspicious activity related to form submissions and plugin settings

Monitoring Recommendations

• Configure alerting for any access to CRM Perks Forms administrative functions from unauthenticated sessions
• Review WordPress database logs for unexpected changes to plugin-related tables
• Implement network-level monitoring to detect scanning or enumeration attempts against WordPress installations
• Regularly audit form submission data and configuration changes for signs of unauthorized access

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-37463

Immediate Actions Required

• Update CRM Perks Forms plugin to a version newer than 1.1.5 immediately
• Audit your WordPress site for any signs of unauthorized access or data exfiltration
• Review form submission data and plugin configurations for unexpected modifications
• Consider temporarily disabling the CRM Perks Forms plugin until patched if an update is not immediately available

Patch Information

Users should update the CRM Perks Forms plugin to the latest available version that addresses this vulnerability. The vulnerability affects all versions through 1.1.5. Check the WordPress plugin repository or the vendor website for the latest security update.

For additional context, review the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for detailed information about the fix.

Workarounds

• Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to filter malicious requests targeting the vulnerable plugin
• Restrict access to WordPress admin and plugin functionality using IP allowlisting where feasible
• Enable WordPress two-factor authentication and limit administrative access to trusted users only
• Consider using WordPress security plugins to add additional layers of access control

# WordPress plugin update via WP-CLI
wp plugin update crm-perks-forms --path=/var/www/html/wordpress

# Verify installed plugin version
wp plugin list --name=crm-perks-forms --fields=name,version,status --path=/var/www/html/wordpress

# If update not available, temporarily deactivate the vulnerable plugin
wp plugin deactivate crm-perks-forms --path=/var/www/html/wordpress