CVE-2024-10958 in WP Photo Album Plus Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/10/2024
The The WP Photo Album Plus plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary shortcode execution via getshortcodedrenderedfenodelay AJAX action in all versions up to, and including, 8.8.08.007 . This is due to the software allowing users to execute an action that does not properly validate a value before running do_shortcode. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary shortcodes.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/14/2024
The WP Photo Album Plus plugin for WordPress presents a critical security vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-10958 that affects all versions up to and including 8.8.08.007. This vulnerability resides within the plugin's AJAX handling mechanism, specifically in the getshortcodedrenderedfenodelay action which is designed to render shortcodes without delay. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation within the plugin's codebase where user-supplied data is directly passed to the do_shortcode function without proper sanitization or validation. This represents a classic vulnerability pattern that aligns with CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, commonly known as cross-site scripting, though in this case it manifests as arbitrary shortcode execution rather than XSS.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through an unauthenticated attacker who can leverage the exposed AJAX endpoint to inject and execute arbitrary shortcodes within the WordPress environment. Since the plugin fails to validate or sanitize the input parameters before passing them to the do_shortcode function, malicious actors can craft specially formatted requests that include potentially harmful shortcode content. This allows attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of the WordPress installation, potentially leading to complete compromise of the affected site. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it does not require authentication, making it particularly dangerous as any user can exploit it without prior access credentials.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are severe and multifaceted. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain the ability to execute arbitrary shortcodes that may include malicious code, potentially leading to data theft, defacement, or further exploitation of the WordPress installation. The vulnerability could be leveraged to inject malicious content, create backdoors, or even deploy malware through the WordPress environment. This represents a significant threat to WordPress site owners as it allows for remote code execution without requiring authentication, making it an attractive target for automated attacks. The vulnerability's presence in a widely used plugin means that numerous WordPress installations could be at risk, potentially affecting thousands of websites globally.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should begin with immediate patching of the affected plugin to the latest version where the vulnerability has been addressed. Until a patch is available, administrators should implement additional security measures such as restricting access to the vulnerable AJAX endpoint through firewall rules or web application firewalls. The implementation of proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the plugin's codebase is essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect suspicious activity related to the affected endpoint. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and the principle of least privilege in web application security, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.008 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 for Phishing. The incident highlights the critical need for regular security assessments and the importance of keeping all plugins and themes updated to address known vulnerabilities in the WordPress ecosystem.