CVE-2024-56255

Executive Summary

CVE-2024-56255 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability in the AyeCode Connect WordPress plugin (versions up to and including 1.3.8). This flaw allows an authenticated attacker with low privileges to exploit incorrectly configured access control security levels, potentially leading to unauthorized access to certain plugin functionalities. The vulnerability is classified as a WordPress ecosystem issue and does not involve Apache or Nginx misconfigurations. The CVSS score is 4.3 (Medium), and no public exploit code or patch details are currently available.

Supply Chain & Package Security

This vulnerability affects a WordPress plugin distributed via the official WordPress plugin repository. Users should verify the integrity of their plugin files and ensure they are sourced from trusted channels. No known supply chain compromise has been reported.

CVSS Breakdown & Threat Level

• CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
• Base Score: 4.3 (Medium)
• Attack Vector: Network
• Attack Complexity: Low
• Privileges Required: Low
• User Interaction: None
• Scope: Unchanged
• Confidentiality Impact: Low
• Integrity Impact: None
• Availability Impact: None

The threat level is Medium due to the low attack complexity and the requirement for authenticated access. Exploitation could lead to limited information disclosure.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability resides in the AyeCode Connect plugin's access control mechanisms. The plugin fails to properly validate user permissions when processing certain API requests or administrative actions. This allows a user with minimal privileges (e.g., subscriber or contributor) to access functionality that should be restricted to higher-privileged roles (e.g., administrator).

The core issue is a Missing Authorization check (CWE-862) in one or more plugin endpoints. The plugin likely uses current_user_can() checks inconsistently or relies on nonce verification without proper capability validation. An attacker can craft a request to these endpoints, bypassing intended access controls.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Since no patch is available, the vulnerable code is presumed to be in the plugin's main processing files. A typical vulnerable pattern might look like:

// Vulnerable: No capability check
add_action('wp_ajax_ayecode_connect_action', 'handle_action');
function handle_action() {
    // Process request without checking user capabilities
    $data = $_POST['data'];
    // ... sensitive operation
}

A patched version would include a capability check:

// Patched: Proper capability check
add_action('wp_ajax_ayecode_connect_action', 'handle_action');
function handle_action() {
    if (!current_user_can('manage_options')) {
        wp_die('Unauthorized');
    }
    $data = $_POST['data'];
    // ... sensitive operation
}

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team

Prerequisites:

• A WordPress installation with AyeCode Connect <= 1.3.8
• A low-privileged user account (e.g., subscriber)

Exploitation Steps:

1. Log in as the low-privileged user.
2. Identify the vulnerable AJAX endpoint (e.g., admin-ajax.php?action=ayecode_connect_action).
3. Craft a POST request with the required parameters.
4. Send the request and observe the response for unauthorized data access.

Example cURL command:

curl -X POST 'http://target/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php' \
  -d 'action=ayecode_connect_action&data=malicious_payload' \
  --cookie 'wordpress_logged_in_xxx=session_cookie'

Blue Team

Detection:

• Monitor for unusual AJAX requests to admin-ajax.php with actions related to ayecode_connect.
• Look for requests from low-privileged users attempting to access administrative endpoints.
• Review server logs for 403 errors followed by successful 200 responses on the same endpoint.

Hunting:

• Search for action=ayecode_connect in web server access logs.
• Correlate user roles with accessed endpoints.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• File Hashes (SHA256): (None available)
• Network Indicators:
  • POST requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with action=ayecode_connect_*
  • Unusual data payloads in AJAX requests from low-privileged users
• Log Entries:
  • Repeated access to admin-ajax.php with action=ayecode_connect from non-admin IPs
  • PHP error logs showing capability check failures

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule Detect_AyeCode_Connect_Missing_Auth {
    meta:
        description = "Detects vulnerable AyeCode Connect plugin files"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-10"
        cve = "CVE-2024-56255"
    strings:
        $vuln_func = "add_action('wp_ajax_ayecode_connect" nocase
        $no_cap = "current_user_can" nocase
    condition:
        $vuln_func and not $no_cap
}

Sigma Rule

title: AyeCode Connect Missing Authorization Exploitation
id: 8a9b7c6d-5e4f-3a2b-1c0d-9e8f7a6b5c4d
status: experimental
description: Detects exploitation attempts of CVE-2024-56255
author: Valters IT
date: 2025-04-10
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: apache
detection:
    selection:
        cs-method: 'POST'
        c-uri: '/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php'
        cs-uri-query: 'action=ayecode_connect*'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate admin actions
level: medium

Suricata Rule

alert http $HOME_NET any -> $EXTERNAL_NET any (
    msg:"CVE-2024-56255 AyeCode Connect Missing Authorization Attempt";
    flow:to_server,established;
    content:"POST"; http_method;
    content:"/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php"; http_uri;
    content:"action=ayecode_connect"; http_client_body;
    classtype:attempted-admin;
    sid:1000001;
    rev:1;
)

Remediation & Mitigation

1. Immediate Action: Disable the AyeCode Connect plugin until a patch is available.
2. Workaround: Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule to block requests to admin-ajax.php with action=ayecode_connect* from non-admin users.
3. Long-term: Monitor the plugin vendor for updates and apply the patch as soon as it is released.
4. Hardening: Review and enforce least-privilege principles for all WordPress user roles.

Valters IT
Securing Digital Frontiers