CVE-2024-50500: Phlox Theme Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2024-50500 Overview

CVE-2024-50500 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability affecting the Averta Shortcodes and Extra Features for Phlox theme WordPress plugin (auxin-elements). This vulnerability allows attackers to exploit incorrectly configured access control security levels, enabling unauthorized access to protected functionality within WordPress sites running the vulnerable plugin versions.

The vulnerability stems from CWE-862 (Missing Authorization), where the plugin fails to properly verify user permissions before allowing access to sensitive operations. This broken access control flaw can be exploited remotely without authentication, potentially leading to complete compromise of affected WordPress installations.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this missing authorization flaw to bypass access controls entirely, potentially gaining unauthorized access to site functionality, modifying content, or escalating privileges within affected WordPress installations.

Affected Products

• Averta Shortcodes and Extra Features for Phlox Theme versions up to and including 2.17.4
• WordPress installations running the vulnerable auxin-elements plugin
• All Phlox theme users utilizing the auxin-elements plugin for shortcodes and extra features

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-02-03 - CVE-2024-50500 published to NVD
• 2026-04-01 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-50500

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability represents a fundamental access control failure within the auxin-elements WordPress plugin. The plugin provides shortcodes and additional functionality for the Phlox theme but fails to implement proper authorization checks on sensitive operations.

The missing authorization allows any user—including unauthenticated visitors—to access functionality that should be restricted to authenticated users or administrators. This type of broken access control vulnerability is particularly dangerous in WordPress environments where plugins often handle sensitive site operations.

The network-accessible nature of this vulnerability means attackers can exploit it remotely without requiring any prior authentication or user interaction, significantly lowering the barrier to exploitation.

Root Cause

The root cause is a Missing Authorization vulnerability (CWE-862) in the auxin-elements plugin. The plugin does not properly verify that users have the appropriate permissions before allowing access to protected functionality. This likely manifests as missing capability checks (such as current_user_can() calls) or inadequate nonce verification in AJAX handlers and other access-controlled endpoints within the plugin code.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, requiring no authentication, no user interaction, and exhibiting low attack complexity. An attacker can remotely send crafted requests to the vulnerable WordPress site to exploit the missing authorization checks.

The exploitation flow typically involves:

1. Identifying a WordPress site running the vulnerable auxin-elements plugin
2. Discovering endpoints or functionality that lack proper authorization
3. Crafting HTTP requests to access or manipulate protected resources
4. Exploiting the broken access control to perform unauthorized actions

The vulnerability manifests in the plugin's access control implementation where authorization checks are absent or improperly configured. Technical details regarding the specific vulnerable endpoints can be found in the Patchstack Vulnerability Report.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-50500

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual HTTP requests to auxin-elements plugin endpoints from unauthenticated sources
• Unexpected modifications to site content or settings without corresponding admin activity
• Access log entries showing direct requests to plugin AJAX handlers without proper authentication cookies
• Anomalous WordPress database changes that cannot be attributed to legitimate user sessions

Detection Strategies

• Review web server access logs for suspicious requests targeting /wp-content/plugins/auxin-elements/ paths
• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to monitor and alert on requests to known vulnerable plugin endpoints
• Enable WordPress audit logging to track unauthorized access attempts and configuration changes
• Deploy file integrity monitoring to detect unexpected modifications to WordPress core, theme, or plugin files

Monitoring Recommendations

• Configure real-time alerting for failed authentication attempts combined with subsequent successful access to protected resources
• Monitor WordPress admin activity logs for actions performed without corresponding login events
• Implement network-based intrusion detection rules for patterns associated with WordPress plugin exploitation
• Establish baseline traffic patterns to auxin-elements endpoints and alert on deviations

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-50500

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the auxin-elements plugin to a patched version immediately (versions above 2.17.4)
• Audit WordPress user accounts and permissions for any unauthorized modifications
• Review site content and configurations for signs of unauthorized access or tampering
• Consider temporarily disabling the auxin-elements plugin if an immediate update is not possible
• Implement WAF rules to block exploitation attempts while planning the update

Patch Information

Administrators should update the Shortcodes and Extra Features for Phlox theme plugin (auxin-elements) to the latest available version through the WordPress plugin repository. Versions through 2.17.4 are confirmed vulnerable. Consult the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for additional remediation guidance.

Workarounds

• Temporarily deactivate the auxin-elements plugin until a patched version can be applied
• Implement server-level access controls to restrict requests to vulnerable plugin endpoints
• Deploy a Web Application Firewall with rules specifically targeting broken access control exploitation patterns
• Restrict access to WordPress admin and AJAX endpoints using IP allowlisting where feasible

# Temporary .htaccess mitigation - restrict direct access to plugin AJAX handlers
# Add to WordPress root .htaccess file (backup before modifying)

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
    RewriteEngine On
    # Block direct access to auxin-elements AJAX endpoints from unauthenticated users
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} ^/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php [NC]
    RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} action=aux_ [NC]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_COOKIE} !wordpress_logged_in [NC]
    RewriteRule ^(.*)$ - [F,L]
</IfModule>