The Ak Framework plugin for WordPress, included in the Newsy - Viral News & Magazine WordPress Theme, is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 2.9.8. This is due to missing capability checks in the ajax_refresh_nonce and ak_admin_ajax handlers before passing attacker-controlled option names and values to update_option(). This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to update arbitrary WordPress options including users_can_register and default_role to escalate privileges to administrator by enabling user registration with administrator as the default role.
Attack Parameters
Attack Vector
Network
Can be exploited remotely
Attack Complexity
Low
Easy to exploit
Privileges Required
Low
Basic privileges needed
User Interaction
None
No user interaction needed
Impact Assessment
Confidentiality
High
Complete data leak
Integrity
High
Complete data modification
Availability
High
Complete denial of service
CVSS Vector v3.1