Private post disclosure via unchecked AJAX validation
Published Jan 23, 2023 · Updated Apr 2, 2025
Authentication bypass in WP Chill Passster before 3.5.5.9 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary private WordPress posts via AJAX. The validate_input handler accepts an attacker-selected post_id and captcha mode, then returns that post without verifying its password or public status. No account is required, and the request uses a nonce exposed by a protected post; the demonstrated consequence is disclosure of protected content.
Summary
What happened
Authentication bypass in WP Chill Passster before 3.5.5.9 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary private WordPress posts via AJAX. The validate_input handler accepts an attacker-selected post_id and captcha mode, then returns that post without verifying its password or public status. No account is required, and the request uses a nonce exposed by a protected post; the demonstrated consequence is disclosure of protected content.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2021-24881
- Published
- Jan 23, 2023
- Updated
- Apr 2, 2025
- Vendor
- WP Chill
- Product
- Passster
- Classifications
- CWE-287, T1190
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 23, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 2, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=0 <3.5.5.9
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Public exploit references
- WPScan validate_input AJAX proof of conceptproof of concept · validated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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