CVE-2024-9697 Overview
The Social Rocket – Social Sharing Plugin for WordPress contains a missing authorization vulnerability [CWE-862] affecting all versions up to and including 1.3.4. The flaw exists in the tweet_settings_save() and tweet_settings_update() functions, which lack capability checks. Authenticated attackers with Subscriber-level access or higher can modify the plugin's settings without proper authorization. The vulnerability was published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) on January 7, 2025.
Critical Impact
Any authenticated WordPress user with Subscriber privileges or higher can alter Social Rocket plugin configuration, enabling unauthorized modification of social sharing behavior on affected sites.
Affected Products
- Wpsocialrocket Social Rocket plugin for WordPress (all versions)
- Social Rocket versions 1.3.4 and earlier
- WordPress sites with the Social Rocket – Social Sharing Plugin installed and activated
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-01-07 - CVE-2024-9697 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-9697
Vulnerability Analysis
The Social Rocket plugin registers administrative AJAX handlers to save and update its Twitter/tweet-related settings. These handlers invoke tweet_settings_save() and tweet_settings_update() in class-social-rocket-admin.php without verifying that the requesting user holds an administrative capability such as manage_options. Any authenticated user, including a low-privileged Subscriber, can therefore call these endpoints and change plugin configuration values.
The issue is a classic broken access control weakness. Authentication is enforced by WordPress, but authorization is not enforced by the plugin. The result is an integrity impact limited to plugin settings rather than the WordPress core, which matches the scope reflected in the vulnerability's severity rating.
Root Cause
The root cause is a missing capability check [CWE-862] in the two administrative handlers. WordPress plugins are expected to call current_user_can() and validate a nonce before mutating stored options. In vulnerable versions of Social Rocket, both tweet_settings_save() and tweet_settings_update() proceed directly to update stored settings once a request is authenticated. See the WordPress Plugin Code Snippet for the affected handler location.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires network access to the WordPress site and a valid low-privileged account. On sites that allow open user registration, an attacker can register a Subscriber account and immediately issue an authenticated request to the vulnerable AJAX endpoints. Because the flaw is limited to plugin settings, the direct impact is unauthorized modification of Social Rocket configuration values rather than remote code execution or data theft.
The vulnerability manifests through WordPress's admin-ajax.php endpoint invoking the unprotected setting-save handlers. Refer to the Wordfence Vulnerability Report for additional technical context.
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Stop Identity AttacksDetection Methods for CVE-2024-9697
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected changes to Social Rocket plugin settings, including modified Twitter handles, share URLs, or button configurations.
- Entries in web server access logs showing POST requests to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with actions tied to tweet_settings_save or tweet_settings_update from non-administrator sessions.
- New or recently created Subscriber accounts that issue administrative-style AJAX requests shortly after registration.
Detection Strategies
- Inventory WordPress installations and identify sites running Social Rocket version 1.3.4 or earlier by inspecting wp-content/plugins/social-rocket/.
- Review WordPress audit logs for plugin option updates initiated by users without manage_options capability.
- Correlate WordPress user role data with AJAX request logs to surface low-privileged accounts touching plugin-administration endpoints.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable a WordPress activity or audit logging plugin to record option changes and the user responsible for each change.
- Monitor for anomalous POST volume to admin-ajax.php originating from Subscriber-tier accounts.
- Alert on newly registered accounts that immediately interact with plugin-management actions.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-9697
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the Social Rocket plugin to the version released in WordPress Changeset #3347243, which introduces the missing authorization checks.
- Audit existing Social Rocket settings for unauthorized modifications and restore known-good values where necessary.
- Review WordPress user accounts and remove untrusted Subscriber accounts, especially on sites permitting open registration.
Patch Information
The vendor addressed the flaw in the Social Rocket plugin update committed in WordPress Changeset #3347243. Site administrators should install the fixed version through the WordPress plugin updater or by deploying the patched release manually. Consult the Wordfence Vulnerability Report for confirmation of the fixed version.
Workarounds
- Disable the Social Rocket plugin until the patched version can be deployed.
- Disable open user registration under Settings → General to prevent unauthenticated attackers from obtaining a Subscriber account.
- Restrict access to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php from untrusted networks using web application firewall rules where feasible.
# Configuration example: disable WordPress open registration via wp-cli
wp option update users_can_register 0
# Deactivate the vulnerable plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate social-rocket
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
