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Description

CVE-2024-13643 is a vulnerability affecting the Zox News - Professional WordPress News & Magazine Theme plugin, versions 3.17.0 and earlier. It allows authenticated attackers with Subscriber-level access or higher to modify arbitrary WordPress options due to missing capability checks in the backup_options() and reset_options() functions. This unauthorized data modification can lead to privilege escalation, potentially granting attackers administrative access by manipulating user registration settings. While the CVSS score is 8.8, the SOCRadar Vulnerability Risk Score (SVRS) is 42, suggesting a moderate risk level.

Key Insights

1. Privilege Escalation: The most critical aspect of this vulnerability is the potential for Subscriber-level users to elevate their privileges to Administrator. By manipulating the default user role and enabling user registration, attackers can create new administrator accounts and gain full control of the WordPress site.

2. Denial of Service: The vulnerability allows for the deletion of critical WordPress options. Removing these options can cause website malfunctions and errors, leading to a denial of service for legitimate users.

3. Low SVRS vs High CVSS: While the CVSS indicates a high severity vulnerability, the SVRS of 42 suggests a moderate risk. This discrepancy may be due to the vulnerability requiring authentication (limiting its exploitability) and the absence of active exploitation in the wild detected by SOCRadar's threat intelligence feeds (Social Media, News, Code Repositories, Dark/Deep Web data, and associations with Threat Actors and malware).

Mitigation Strategies

1. Update the Zox News Theme: The primary mitigation strategy is to update the Zox News - Professional WordPress News & Magazine Theme plugin to a version later than 3.17.0, where the vulnerability is patched.

2. Restrict User Registration (If Not Needed): If user registration is not required, disable it in the WordPress settings to prevent attackers from exploiting the vulnerability even if they manage to manipulate user registration settings. Navigate to Settings > General and uncheck the box next to "Anyone can register."

3. Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF): Deploy a WAF with rules specifically designed to detect and prevent unauthorized access to WordPress options. This will add an additional layer of protection against exploitation attempts.

Additional Information

If users have additional queries regarding this incident, they can use the 'Ask to Analyst' feature, contact SOCRadar directly, or open a support ticket for more information if necessary. ```