CVE-2024-44038

Executive Summary

CVE-2024-44038 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability in the Sunshine Photo Cart WordPress plugin, affecting versions up to and including 3.2.9. This flaw allows an unauthenticated attacker to exploit incorrectly configured access control security levels, potentially leading to unauthorized data access or manipulation. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 5.3 (Medium), with an EPSS score of 0.0%, indicating low exploitation likelihood at this time. No public proof-of-concept (PoC) or patch is currently available.

Supply Chain & Package Security

This vulnerability resides in a WordPress plugin, which is part of the broader WordPress ecosystem. Since no official patch has been released, users are advised to monitor the plugin’s update channel and consider disabling the plugin until a fix is available. The lack of OSV or GitHub advisory data suggests limited transparency in the supply chain.

CVSS Breakdown & Threat Level

• CVSS Score: 5.3 (Medium)
• Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
• Attack Vector: Network
• Attack Complexity: Low
• Privileges Required: None
• User Interaction: None
• Scope: Unchanged
• Confidentiality Impact: Low
• Integrity Impact: None
• Availability Impact: None

The vulnerability is exploitable remotely without authentication, but only leads to limited information disclosure. The threat level is considered medium due to the low impact and current lack of active exploitation.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability stems from missing authorization checks in the Sunshine Photo Cart plugin. Specifically, certain REST API endpoints or AJAX actions do not properly verify user permissions before processing requests. This allows an unauthenticated attacker to access or modify data that should be restricted to authenticated users with specific roles.

The affected component is likely the plugin’s cart or order management functionality, where access control is improperly configured. The flaw is classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization), indicating that the software does not perform any authorization check for a user’s access to a resource or functionality.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Since no patch is available, a direct code comparison cannot be provided. However, the vulnerable code likely lacks a capability check such as current_user_can() or wp_verify_nonce() before executing sensitive operations. A patched version would include proper authorization checks, for example:

// Vulnerable code (missing authorization)
add_action('wp_ajax_nopriv_sunshine_cart_action', 'handle_cart_action');
function handle_cart_action() {
    // Process request without checking user permissions
}

// Patched code (with authorization)
add_action('wp_ajax_sunshine_cart_action', 'handle_cart_action');
add_action('wp_ajax_nopriv_sunshine_cart_action', 'handle_cart_action');
function handle_cart_action() {
    if (!current_user_can('manage_options')) {
        wp_die('Unauthorized');
    }
    // Process request
}

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team

To exploit this vulnerability in a lab environment:

1. Setup: Install WordPress with Sunshine Photo Cart version 3.2.9.
2. Reconnaissance: Identify vulnerable endpoints by analyzing the plugin’s JavaScript or REST API routes.
3. Exploitation: Send a crafted HTTP request to a vulnerable endpoint without authentication headers.

Example using curl:

curl -X POST http://target/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php \
  -d "action=sunshine_cart_action&data=malicious_payload"

If the endpoint returns sensitive data or performs unauthorized actions, the vulnerability is confirmed.

Blue Team

To detect exploitation attempts:

• Monitor for unusual requests to admin-ajax.php or REST API endpoints without authentication.
• Look for patterns of unauthorized access to cart or order data.
• Use web application firewalls (WAF) to block requests missing required nonces or capability checks.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• Network: HTTP requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with action parameters related to Sunshine Photo Cart (e.g., sunshine_cart_action).
• Logs: WordPress debug logs showing failed capability checks or unauthorized access attempts.
• File: Modified plugin files in /wp-content/plugins/sunshine-photo-cart/ with suspicious code.

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2024_44038_Sunshine_Photo_Cart {
    meta:
        description = "Detects exploitation attempts for CVE-2024-44038"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-14"
        reference = "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-44038"
    strings:
        $action = "sunshine_cart_action"
        $ajax = "admin-ajax.php"
    condition:
        $action and $ajax
}

Sigma Rule

title: CVE-2024-44038 Sunshine Photo Cart Exploitation
id: 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789012
status: experimental
description: Detects unauthorized access attempts to Sunshine Photo Cart endpoints
author: Valters IT
date: 2025-04-14
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: apache
detection:
    selection:
        cs-method: 'POST'
        c-uri: '/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php'
        cs-uri-query: 'action=sunshine_cart_action'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate plugin usage by authenticated users
level: medium

Suricata Rule

alert http any any -> any any (
    msg:"CVE-2024-44038 Sunshine Photo Cart Exploitation Attempt";
    flow:to_server;
    content:"POST";
    http_method;
    content:"/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php";
    http_uri;
    content:"action=sunshine_cart_action";
    http_client_body;
    classtype:attempted-recon;
    sid:1000001;
    rev:1;
)

Remediation & Mitigation

Since no official patch is available, the following mitigations are recommended:

1. Disable the plugin until a patch is released.
2. Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to block requests to vulnerable endpoints without proper authentication.
3. Monitor logs for unauthorized access attempts.
4. Apply virtual patching using security plugins that can block known vulnerable actions.
5. Contact the vendor for an update or consider switching to an alternative plugin.

Valters IT Signature:
This report is generated by Valters IT Cyber Threat Intelligence. For questions, contact: threatintel@valtersit.com