EUVD-2024-34009

Comprehensive Technical Analysis of EUVD-2024-34009

1. Vulnerability Assessment and Severity Evaluation

The vulnerability described in EUVD-2024-34009 pertains to the "Sign In With Google" plugin for WordPress. The issue lies in the 'authenticate_user' function, which fails to implement sufficient null value checks when setting the access token and user information. This oversight allows unauthenticated attackers to bypass the authentication mechanism and log in as the first user who has signed in using Google OAuth, potentially gaining administrative access.

Severity Evaluation:

• Base Score: 9.8 (Critical)
• Base Score Version: CVSS:3.1
• Base Score Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

The high base score indicates a critical vulnerability due to the ease of exploitation (low complexity, no user interaction required) and the severe impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

2. Potential Attack Vectors and Exploitation Methods

Attack Vectors:

• Network (AV:N): The vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network.
• Low Complexity (AC:L): The attack requires minimal technical skill and resources.
• No Privileges Required (PR:N): The attacker does not need any prior privileges.
• No User Interaction (UI:N): The attack does not require any interaction from the user.

Exploitation Methods:

• An attacker can send a crafted request to the WordPress site using the vulnerable plugin.
• By exploiting the lack of null value checks, the attacker can manipulate the authentication process to gain unauthorized access.
• The attacker can log in as the first user who has signed in using Google OAuth, which is often the site administrator.

3. Affected Systems and Software Versions

Affected Systems:

• WordPress sites using the "Sign In With Google" plugin.

Affected Software Versions:

• All versions up to, and including, 1.8.0.

4. Recommended Mitigation Strategies

Immediate Actions:

• Update the Plugin: Ensure that the "Sign In With Google" plugin is updated to a version higher than 1.8.0.
• Disable the Plugin: If an update is not immediately available, disable the plugin to prevent exploitation.
• Monitor for Suspicious Activity: Implement monitoring to detect any unusual login attempts or activities.

Long-Term Strategies:

• Regular Updates: Maintain a regular update schedule for all plugins and themes.
• Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments.
• Access Controls: Implement strong access controls and multi-factor authentication (MFA) for administrative accounts.

5. Impact on European Cybersecurity Landscape

The vulnerability poses a significant risk to the European cybersecurity landscape, particularly for organizations and individuals using WordPress with the affected plugin. Given the widespread use of WordPress, the potential for widespread exploitation is high, which could lead to data breaches, unauthorized access, and potential financial losses.

Regulatory Implications:

• Organizations must comply with GDPR regulations, which require prompt reporting of data breaches.
• Failure to address this vulnerability could result in regulatory penalties and loss of customer trust.

6. Technical Details for Security Professionals

Vulnerability Details:

• The 'authenticate_user' function in the "Sign In With Google" plugin does not properly handle null values when setting the access token and user information.
• This flaw allows an attacker to bypass the authentication process and gain unauthorized access.

Code Reference:

• The vulnerability is located in the class-sign-in-with-google-admin.php file, specifically around line 525.

References:

• Wordfence Threat Intelligence
• WordPress Plugin Repository

Aliases:

• CVE-2024-11015

Assigner:

• Wordfence

ENISA ID Product:

• Product: Sign In With Google
• Product Version: * ≤1.8.0

ENISA ID Vendor:

• Vendor: tarecord

By addressing this vulnerability promptly and implementing robust security measures, organizations can mitigate the risk of unauthorized access and protect their digital assets.