CVE-2024-55991 Overview
CVE-2024-55991 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability [CWE-862] in the Mario Peshev WP-CRM System plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 3.2.9.1. Attackers exploit incorrectly configured access control security levels to reach functionality that should be restricted to privileged users.
The vulnerability is exploitable over the network without authentication or user interaction. Successful exploitation yields limited impacts to integrity and availability, with no direct impact to confidentiality.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated network attackers can invoke protected WP-CRM System actions due to missing authorization checks, resulting in low-integrity and low-availability impact on affected WordPress sites.
Affected Products
- Mario Peshev WP-CRM System (wp-crm-system) plugin for WordPress
- All versions from n/a through 3.2.9.1
- WordPress sites with the vulnerable plugin installed and activated
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-12-31 - CVE-2024-55991 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in the NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-55991
Vulnerability Analysis
The WP-CRM System plugin exposes plugin actions without verifying whether the requesting user holds the required capability or role. The plugin relies on incorrectly configured access control levels rather than enforcing WordPress capability checks such as current_user_can() on privileged endpoints.
Because authorization is missing, requests reach handler code that assumes the caller has already been vetted. The result is a broken access control condition classified under CWE-862 Missing Authorization. Refer to the Patchstack advisory for coordinated disclosure details.
Root Cause
The root cause is the absence of authorization enforcement on plugin action handlers. The plugin either omits capability checks entirely or trusts a security level that does not match the sensitivity of the operation being performed. Any authenticated or unauthenticated actor who reaches the endpoint can trigger the underlying logic.
Attack Vector
Exploitation occurs over the network against the WordPress site hosting the plugin. An attacker sends crafted HTTP requests to the vulnerable plugin endpoints exposed by WP-CRM System. No credentials and no user interaction are required. The attacker can modify or disrupt CRM data managed by the plugin within the boundaries permitted by the exposed action, matching the low integrity and low availability impact reported in the advisory.
No public proof-of-concept exploit code is available at the time of publication. The vulnerability mechanism is described in the Patchstack advisory.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-55991
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected creation, modification, or deletion of CRM records, contacts, or tasks managed by WP-CRM System.
- HTTP POST requests to WP-CRM System admin-ajax.php actions or plugin endpoints originating from unauthenticated sessions.
- WordPress audit log entries showing plugin actions performed without a corresponding authenticated administrator or CRM manager session.
Detection Strategies
- Inspect web server access logs for requests to WP-CRM System action names issued without valid authentication cookies or nonces.
- Compare plugin data changes against expected user activity from privileged accounts to identify anomalous writes.
- Deploy a WordPress-aware web application firewall rule that flags plugin action calls from unauthenticated origins.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable WordPress activity logging and forward events to a centralized SIEM or data lake for correlation.
- Alert on spikes in requests to plugin-specific endpoints, particularly outside business hours.
- Track plugin version inventory across all WordPress installations to identify hosts still running 3.2.9.1 or earlier.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-55991
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the WP-CRM System plugin to a version newer than 3.2.9.1 as soon as a fixed release is available from the vendor.
- Audit WP-CRM System data for unauthorized changes and revert or restore affected records from backups where required.
- Restrict administrative access to the WordPress /wp-admin/ and admin-ajax.php paths using IP allow lists where feasible.
Patch Information
Refer to the Patchstack advisory for WP-CRM System for fix status and vendor guidance. The advisory tracks the plugin release that addresses the missing authorization checks. Apply the vendor-provided patch through the WordPress plugin update mechanism.
Workarounds
- Deactivate and remove the WP-CRM System plugin until a patched version is installed.
- Deploy a web application firewall rule to block unauthenticated requests to WP-CRM System action endpoints.
- Limit access to WordPress administrative endpoints through network-level controls such as VPN or IP restrictions.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
