Description
The FindAll Listing plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 1.0.5. This is due to the 'findall_listing_user_registration_additional_params' function not restricting what user roles a user can register with. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to supply the 'administrator' role during registration and gain administrator access to the site. Note: The vulnerability can only be exploited if the FindAll Membership plugin is also activated, because user registration is in that plugin.
EPSS Score:
0%
Comprehensive Technical Analysis of EUVD-2025-199802
1. Vulnerability Assessment and Severity Evaluation
The vulnerability described in EUVD-2025-199802 pertains to a Privilege Escalation issue in the FindAll Listing plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to register as administrators, thereby gaining full control over the affected WordPress site. The severity of this vulnerability is rated with a CVSS Base Score of 9.8, which is considered critical. The CVSS vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H indicates the following:
- Attack Vector (AV): Network (N) - The vulnerability is exploitable over the network.
- Attack Complexity (AC): Low (L) - The attack requires minimal skill or resources.
- Privileges Required (PR): None (N) - No prior authentication is required.
- User Interaction (UI): None (N) - No user interaction is required.
- Scope (S): Unchanged (U) - The vulnerability does not affect other systems.
- Confidentiality (C): High (H) - Complete loss of confidentiality.
- Integrity (I): High (H) - Complete loss of integrity.
- Availability (A): High (H) - Complete loss of availability.
2. Potential Attack Vectors and Exploitation Methods
The primary attack vector involves exploiting the findall_listing_user_registration_additional_params function, which does not properly restrict user roles during registration. An attacker can:
- Identify the Target: Locate a WordPress site using the vulnerable FindAll Listing plugin (version ≤1.0.5) and the FindAll Membership plugin.
- Craft Malicious Request: Create a registration request with the 'administrator' role.
- Submit Request: Send the request to the registration endpoint, bypassing the intended user role restrictions.
- Gain Administrator Access: Successfully register as an administrator, gaining full control over the site.
3. Affected Systems and Software Versions
- FindAll Listing Plugin: All versions up to and including 1.0.5.
- FindAll Membership Plugin: Must be activated for the vulnerability to be exploitable.
- WordPress Sites: Any WordPress installation using the affected versions of the FindAll Listing plugin and the FindAll Membership plugin.
4. Recommended Mitigation Strategies
- Immediate Patching: Upgrade the FindAll Listing plugin to a version higher than 1.0.5, ensuring the vulnerability is patched.
- Disable User Registration: Temporarily disable user registration until the plugin is updated.
- Monitor for Suspicious Activity: Implement monitoring to detect and respond to any suspicious registration activities.
- Regular Audits: Conduct regular security audits of all installed plugins and themes.
- Use Security Plugins: Deploy security plugins like Wordfence to provide additional layers of protection.
5. Impact on European Cybersecurity Landscape
The vulnerability poses a significant risk to the European cybersecurity landscape, particularly for organizations and individuals using WordPress for their websites. Given the widespread use of WordPress and the potential for unauthenticated attackers to gain administrator access, the impact could be severe, including:
- Data Breaches: Unauthorized access to sensitive data.
- Website Defacement: Malicious alteration of website content.
- Malware Distribution: Use of compromised sites to distribute malware.
- Reputation Damage: Loss of trust and credibility for affected organizations.
6. Technical Details for Security Professionals
- Vulnerable Function:
findall_listing_user_registration_additional_params - Exploitation Condition: The function does not restrict user roles, allowing the 'administrator' role to be set during registration.
- Detection: Monitor for unusual registration activities and review user roles for any unauthorized administrator accounts.
- Response: Immediate patching and review of all user accounts to ensure no unauthorized administrators exist.
- Prevention: Implement strict access controls and regularly update all plugins and themes to their latest versions.
Conclusion
The Privilege Escalation vulnerability in the FindAll Listing plugin for WordPress is a critical issue that requires immediate attention. Organizations and individuals using the affected plugin should prioritize updating to a secure version and implement additional security measures to mitigate the risk. The potential impact on the European cybersecurity landscape underscores the importance of vigilant monitoring and proactive security management.