CVE-2024-54336: Projectopia Authentication Bypass Flaw

CVE-2024-54336 Overview

CVE-2024-54336 is an authentication bypass vulnerability in the Projectopia projectopia-core WordPress plugin. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 5.1.7. It is classified under [CWE-288] as Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel. An authenticated attacker with low privileges can exploit an alternate code path to bypass authentication controls and take over other accounts. Successful exploitation compromises confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the WordPress site running the plugin.

Critical Impact
Account takeover through an alternate authentication path allows attackers to escalate privileges and gain administrative control of affected WordPress installations.

Affected Products

Projectopia projectopia-core plugin versions through 5.1.7
WordPress sites using the Projectopia plugin for project management
All prior releases of Projectopia up to and including 5.1.7

Discovery Timeline

2024-12-13 - CVE-2024-54336 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-54336

Vulnerability Analysis

The Projectopia plugin exposes an alternate code path that permits authentication to be bypassed. An attacker who already holds a low-privilege account on the target WordPress site can invoke this path to assume another user's identity. Patchstack documents the issue as an account takeover flaw affecting the plugin through version 5.1.7. Because the attack occurs over the network with low complexity, exploitation does not require user interaction. The EPSS probability is 0.645% with a percentile of 47.6, indicating measurable but not yet widespread interest.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper enforcement of authentication in a plugin endpoint. The plugin exposes functionality reachable through a secondary channel that fails to validate the identity of the caller against the account being modified or accessed. This condition matches [CWE-288], where security-relevant checks are performed on the primary path but omitted on an equivalent alternate path.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is remote and network-based. An attacker authenticates with any low-privilege account, such as a subscriber, and then issues requests to the vulnerable plugin endpoint. The request targets the alternate path that skips identity checks, allowing the attacker to change credentials or session state associated with a higher-privilege user. This enables full account takeover, including administrator accounts.

No verified public proof-of-concept code is available at this time. Technical details are documented in the Patchstack Vulnerability Report.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-54336

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected password or email address changes on WordPress administrator accounts.
New administrator accounts created shortly after low-privilege user logins.
HTTP POST requests from authenticated subscribers to Projectopia plugin endpoints under /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php or plugin REST routes.
Session tokens or authentication cookies issued for users other than the requesting account.

Detection Strategies

Audit WordPress user_meta and users tables for recent changes to user_email, user_pass, or role assignments.
Correlate WordPress access logs to identify low-privilege sessions issuing requests to Projectopia AJAX or REST endpoints.
Alert on privilege changes that occur without a corresponding administrator login in the same session.

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward WordPress and web server logs to a centralized SIEM for continuous analysis of authentication events.
Monitor for anomalous parameter values submitted to projectopia-core endpoints, particularly user identifier fields.
Track and alert on any elevation of a WordPress account from a non-administrative role to administrator.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-54336

Immediate Actions Required

Update the Projectopia projectopia-core plugin to a version later than 5.1.7 as soon as a fixed release is available.
If no fixed version is available, deactivate and remove the plugin from all WordPress installations.
Force a password reset for all users, especially administrators, and invalidate active sessions.
Review WordPress user accounts and remove any unrecognized administrator entries.

Patch Information

Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for the latest patch status. Administrators should confirm the installed plugin version against vendor advisories before returning the plugin to production.

Workarounds

Restrict access to /wp-admin/ and plugin AJAX endpoints using a web application firewall rule that blocks non-administrator sessions.
Disable open user registration to reduce the pool of low-privilege accounts available to attackers.
Enforce multi-factor authentication for all WordPress accounts to limit the value of a compromised low-privilege login.

bash

# Configuration example: disable the vulnerable plugin via WP-CLI
wp plugin deactivate projectopia-core
wp plugin delete projectopia-core