Understanding Broken Access Control in Tutor LMS – Migration Tool (≤ 2.2.0)

Critical insights from Managed-WP Security Experts on protecting your WordPress site

Date: February 2, 2026
Author: Managed-WP Security Team

Executive Summary

The Tutor LMS – Migration Tool plugin, versions 2.2.0 and below, harbors a broken access control vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-1804. This flaw specifically impacts the import process by failing to enforce proper authorization checks in the tutor_import_from_xml function. Consequently, users with low-level privileges—such as subscribers—can initiate the import routine improperly, exposing your site to potential unauthorized changes.

This article delves into the nature of this vulnerability, its implications for WordPress sites, detection methodologies, immediate remediation steps, and how Managed-WP’s advanced security services offer robust protection.

Table of Contents

• What is the vulnerability?
• Why this matters (real-world impact)
• Who is at risk
• Technical overview of the vulnerability
• How to verify if your site is vulnerable
• Emergency response for site owners
• Developer guidance: securing the import functionality
• Hardening WordPress against similar threats
• Managed-WP’s protective measures
• Monitoring and detection recommendations
• Post-incident recovery checklist
• Sign up for Managed-WP Free Plan — Immediate protection for your site
• Key takeaways and further resources

What is the vulnerability?

This broken access control issue arises because the import handler function (tutor_import_from_xml) in the Tutor LMS – Migration Tool plugin does not perform required user capability or nonce checks. As a result, any authenticated user—even those with subscriber-level rights—can trigger potentially privileged import operations without proper authorization.

Broken access control is a severe security gap where functions intended to be restricted lack effective permission enforcement, enabling unauthorized users to escalate privileges or perform unintended actions.

Why this matters (real-world impact)

Although classified as a “low urgency” vulnerability due to its nature, this missing authorization bug can have serious consequences depending on what the import process permits. Typical import operations may include:

• Creating or altering posts, custom post types like courses or quizzes
• Adding users or adjusting their roles and metadata
• Uploading files to sensitive directories like wp-content/uploads
• Injecting serialized data or modifying options
• Triggering actions in other plugins or themes

Attackers exploiting this flaw could:

• Inject malicious content or scripts that affect other users
• Upload files allowing remote code execution on vulnerable servers
• Create accounts with elevated privileges
• Manipulate site settings to weaken security or functionality

Even if direct admin user creation is restricted, attackers often chain vulnerabilities for greater impact. Hence, broken access control issues demand immediate attention.

Who is at risk

• Sites running Tutor LMS – Migration Tool plugin version 2.2.0 or earlier
• Sites with open user registrations or weak account takeover protections
• Multisite WordPress networks where plugin behavior might vary across sites
• Sites where imported content triggers other plugin or theme functionality

If you utilize this plugin, especially with external user contributions or open registrations, treat this vulnerability as critical for immediate assessment.

Technical overview of the vulnerability

This vulnerability typically stems from registering AJAX or admin-post handlers without proper permission and nonce verification. In detail, common insecure coding patterns include:

• Using add_action('wp_ajax_tutor_import_from_xml', 'tutor_import_from_xml') without checking user capabilities.
• Omitting check_ajax_referer() or equivalent nonce validation functions.
• Trusting unsanitized POST data, including fields that control user roles or file paths.

Simply put, the plugin allows authenticated users to invoke a sensitive import function without confirming they have administrative or trusted privileges.

Note: Managed-WP does not publish exploit details to prevent misuse; our goal is to empower site owners and developers to apply timely fixes.

How to verify if your site is vulnerable

1. Check your plugin version: Navigate to your WordPress admin Plugins page. If Tutor LMS – Migration Tool’s version is ≤ 2.2.0, immediate action is recommended.
2. Code inspection (for developers or technical admins): Locate the action hook wp_ajax_tutor_import_from_xml and examine the handler function for proper capability checks (current_user_can('manage_options')) and nonce verification (check_ajax_referer()).
3. Review logs: Look for suspicious POST requests to admin-ajax.php with action=tutor_import_from_xml from non-administrative users.
4. Test safely: In a staging environment, attempt to trigger the import process as a low-privilege user—if successful, your site is vulnerable.

Emergency response for site owners

Follow these steps to mitigate risk immediately:

1. Update the plugin: Install version 2.2.1 or later as soon as it is available.
2. Temporary deactivation: If updating is not possible immediately, disable the plugin until a patch can be applied.
3. Restrict access: Configure your firewall or WAF to block requests to admin-ajax.php with the action=tutor_import_from_xml parameter from unauthorized users.
4. Audit your site: Examine recent user activity, file uploads, and content creations for suspicious indicators.
5. Reset credentials: Update passwords for all administrative and recently added user accounts, and rotate API keys.

Developer guidance: securing the import functionality

To prevent unauthorized use of the import endpoint, enforce strict permission validation and nonce verification. An example secure implementation might look like this:

// Register the AJAX action (authenticated users only)
add_action( 'wp_ajax_tutor_import_from_xml', 'tutor_import_from_xml' );

function tutor_import_from_xml() {
    // Verify nonce for request authenticity
    if ( ! isset( $_POST['security'] ) || ! check_ajax_referer( 'tutor_import_nonce', 'security', false ) ) {
        wp_send_json_error( array( 'message' => 'Invalid request' ), 403 );
    }

    // Confirm user capability
    if ( ! current_user_can( 'manage_options' ) ) {
        wp_send_json_error( array( 'message' => 'Insufficient permissions' ), 403 );
    }

    // Proceed with safe import logic, properly validating all inputs
}

Developer best practices:

• Always verify nonces on AJAX and form submissions that alter data.
• Use current_user_can() with specific capabilities instead of role names.
• Sanitize all inputs rigorously before processing.
• Utilize WordPress APIs for filesystem and database operations to enhance security.
• Avoid trusting user-supplied role assignment data during import; map or restrict imported roles carefully.
• Implement logging of import-related activities for auditing.

Hardening WordPress against similar threats

Beyond patching this vulnerability, robust security posture depends on layered defense:

1. Least privilege principle: Only grant users the minimal capabilities necessary.
2. Disable user registration if unused: Prevent unauthorized account creation.
3. Restrict executable permissions: Block PHP execution in wp-content/uploads.
4. Disable file editing: Use define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true); in wp-config.php.
5. Strong admin credentials: Avoid common usernames and enforce strong passwords.
6. Enable two-factor authentication: Adds critical protection for privileged users.
7. Regular backups: Maintain and test restore procedures regularly.

How Managed-WP protects your site

Managed-WP offers comprehensive WordPress security including:

1. Virtual patching: Custom WAF rules intercept exploit attempts against known vulnerabilities before plugin updates are installed.
2. Managed firewall: Proactively block malicious traffic patterns targeting AJAX endpoints and suspicious imports.
3. IP filtering: Whitelist trusted administrative IPs and blacklist attacker IPs.
4. Malware scanning and remediation: Detect and respond to malicious file uploads or unauthorized site changes.
5. Real-time alerts: Immediate notification of suspicious activity or potential attacks.
6. User behavior analytics: Identify anomalous low-privilege user actions that may indicate exploitation attempts.
7. Policy enforcement: Control upload types and sizes to reduce attack surface.

Choose Managed-WP to gain not only technical protection but also expert guidance and incident response assistance.

Monitoring and detection recommendations

• Alert on any POST to admin-ajax.php with action parameters related to “import” from non-admin users.
• Review file uploads for suspicious file types and locations, focusing on new PHP or executable files.
• Monitor unusual role changes and user creations linked to import operations.
• Maintain weekly audits of plugin file modification dates and report unexpected changes.

Post-incident recovery checklist

1. Isolate the site: Enable maintenance mode or take the site offline to prevent further compromise.
2. Preserve all logs: Collect server, WordPress activity, and firewall logs for forensic analysis.
3. Remove malicious content: Delete unauthorized uploads and revert modified files from trusted backups.
4. Update software: Patch plugins, themes, and WordPress core to latest secure versions.
5. Rotate credentials: Reset all sensitive passwords and rotate API keys.
6. Scan for persistence: Use malware scanners to detect backdoors and scheduled malicious tasks.
7. Restore from backup: If necessary, revert to a clean backup taken before the compromise.
8. Implement preventive controls: Deploy security hardening and virtual patches for comprehensive defense.

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Key takeaways and further resources

• Update Tutor LMS – Migration Tool to version 2.2.1 or newer without delay.
• Enforce strict capability and nonce checks on sensitive AJAX handlers.
• Adopt a least privilege approach and disable unused user registrations.
• Leverage Managed-WP for advanced virtual patching and expert security management.
• Review official CVE details and WordPress security best practices to stay informed.

References:

• CVE-2024-1804 Official CVE Entry
• Tutor LMS – Migration Tool Plugin Author Changelog
• WordPress Developer Handbook: Nonces and Capability Checks
• OWASP Top 10: Broken Access Control

(End of article)

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