CVE-2024-13697 in Better Messages Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/01/2025
The Better Messages – Live Chat for WordPress, BuddyPress, PeepSo, Ultimate Member, BuddyBoss plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Server-Side Request Forgery in all versions up to, and including, 2.7.4 via the 'nice_links'. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to make web requests to arbitrary locations originating from the web application and can be used to query and modify information from internal services. Successful exploitation requires the "Enable link previews" to be enabled (default).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2025
The Better Messages plugin for WordPress presents a critical server-side request forgery vulnerability that affects versions up to and including 2.7.4. This vulnerability resides in the 'nice_links' functionality and operates under the CWE-918 weakness category which specifically addresses server-side request forgery attacks. The flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to initiate web requests from the targeted WordPress application to any arbitrary external location, effectively bypassing normal network security controls that would typically prevent such communications. The vulnerability becomes exploitable only when the "Enable link previews" feature is activated, which is set to enabled by default in the plugin configuration.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and sanitization of URL parameters within the link preview functionality. When users submit content containing URLs that trigger the link preview feature, the plugin fails to properly validate the destination addresses, allowing attackers to craft malicious requests that can traverse internal network boundaries. This creates a pathway for attackers to probe internal services, potentially accessing sensitive information or performing unauthorized operations against systems that should normally be isolated from external access. The attack vector specifically leverages the plugin's legitimate functionality to make HTTP requests on behalf of the vulnerable WordPress installation, making the malicious activity appear to originate from a trusted source within the network infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to interact with internal services that may contain sensitive data or administrative functions. An attacker could potentially exploit this to enumerate internal systems, access services that are not exposed to the public internet, or even attempt to manipulate internal resources through the web application's outbound request capabilities. This vulnerability represents a significant risk to organizations that rely on WordPress for their web presence, particularly those with complex internal network architectures where the WordPress server has access to sensitive backend systems. The default enabled state of the vulnerable feature means that many installations are automatically exposed without administrators being aware of the risk.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action from system administrators to either disable the "Enable link previews" functionality within the plugin settings or upgrade to a patched version if one is available. Organizations should also implement network-level controls to restrict outbound requests from the WordPress server, particularly to internal services that should not be accessible through web applications. The implementation of web application firewalls and outbound request filtering can provide additional protection layers. According to ATT&CK framework category T1190, this vulnerability aligns with the Server-Side Request Forgery technique where adversaries leverage applications to make requests to internal systems. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other WordPress plugins and themes, as this represents a common pattern of insecure parameter handling in web applications. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation strategies to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities by reducing the attack surface available to external actors.