CVE-2024-24926 in Brooklyn Theme
Summary
by MITRE • 02/12/2024
Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability in UnitedThemes Brooklyn | Creative Multi-Purpose Responsive WordPress Theme.This issue affects Brooklyn | Creative Multi-Purpose Responsive WordPress Theme: from n/a through 4.9.7.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical deserialization flaw in the Brooklyn WordPress theme that exposes systems to remote code execution risks. The issue stems from the theme's improper handling of untrusted data during the deserialization process, allowing attackers to craft malicious payloads that can be executed when the theme processes user input. The vulnerability affects versions ranging from the initial release through 4.9.7.6, indicating a prolonged period of exposure where users remained at risk without proper mitigation. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-502 which specifically addresses deserialization of untrusted data, a well-known attack vector that has been exploited in numerous high-profile incidents. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to inject malicious serialized objects that, when processed by the vulnerable theme, can trigger arbitrary code execution on the target system. This represents a severe security weakness because WordPress themes often run with elevated privileges and can interact with sensitive system resources.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the Brooklyn theme receives untrusted input through various user-facing interfaces or API endpoints. During the deserialization process, the theme attempts to reconstruct objects from serialized data without proper validation or sanitization, creating an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious code. The attack vector typically involves crafting specially formatted serialized data that, when processed, executes unintended operations on the target server. This could include file manipulation, privilege escalation, or even complete system compromise depending on the execution environment. The vulnerability's impact is amplified because WordPress themes often have access to core system functions and can leverage the web server's permissions to perform unauthorized actions. Security researchers have identified this pattern as consistent with common exploitation techniques targeting WordPress themes, where the deserialization flaw serves as the initial foothold for more extensive attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate code execution to encompass potential data breaches, system compromise, and service disruption. Attackers can leverage the vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information stored on the WordPress site, including user credentials, content, and configuration details. The compromised system may also serve as a launching point for further attacks within the network infrastructure, particularly if the WordPress installation shares resources with other critical systems. Organizations running affected versions of the Brooklyn theme face significant risk of unauthorized access and potential data loss, especially in environments where the theme is used for high-value content management or user data handling. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions indicates that the underlying security flaw was not adequately addressed in the theme updates, leaving users exposed for an extended period and requiring immediate remediation efforts to protect against active exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action to address the root cause through proper input validation and secure deserialization practices. Organizations should prioritize updating to the latest available version of the Brooklyn theme where the vulnerability has been patched, ensuring that all users are protected against potential exploitation attempts. The implementation of web application firewalls and input sanitization measures can provide additional layers of protection while awaiting official patches. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any systems running affected versions and implement monitoring for suspicious activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security audits of WordPress installations are essential to identify similar vulnerabilities in other themes or plugins that may present similar risks. The remediation process should also include reviewing and hardening the WordPress configuration to limit the attack surface and implementing proper access controls to minimize potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices in web applications and the necessity of regular security updates to protect against emerging threats.