CVE-2024-27971 in Permalink Manager for WooCommerce Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/17/2024
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in Premmerce Premmerce Permalink Manager for WooCommerce woo-permalink-manager.This issue affects Premmerce Permalink Manager for WooCommerce: from n/a through <= 2.3.10.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2026
The CVE-2024-27971 vulnerability represents a critical PHP Remote File Inclusion (RFI) flaw that undermines the security posture of the Premmerce Permalink Manager for WooCommerce plugin. This vulnerability resides in the improper handling of filename parameters within include or require statements, creating an exploitable condition where remote attackers can manipulate the inclusion process to execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions of the plugin ranging from the initial release through version 2.3.10, making a substantial portion of users susceptible to this attack vector.
The technical flaw manifests when the plugin fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input that is subsequently used in PHP include or require statements. This improper control allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary file paths or URLs that will be included and executed by the PHP interpreter. The vulnerability operates at the core of PHP's dynamic inclusion mechanisms, where attacker-controlled parameters can be passed directly to functions like include, require, include_once, or require_once without adequate sanitization. This flaw directly maps to CWE-98, which describes improper control of dynamic code features, and specifically aligns with CWE-88, concerning improper neutralization of argument delimiters in a command.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to WordPress installations using the affected plugin. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute malicious code on the target server, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or establishment of persistent backdoors. The impact extends beyond individual plugin functionality as the vulnerability could enable attackers to escalate privileges, access sensitive data, or use the compromised system as a launchpad for further attacks within the network. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that WooCommerce plugins are widely deployed, making this vulnerability attractive to automated exploitation tools and targeted attacks.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1505.003 for server-side injection. Organizations using the Premmerce Permalink Manager plugin should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version where the vulnerability has been patched, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious include patterns, and conducting thorough security audits of all plugin installations. Additionally, administrators should enforce strict input validation mechanisms and consider implementing PHP's allow_url_include directive set to off as an additional protective measure. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of proper input validation and the principle of least privilege in web application security, particularly when dealing with dynamic code inclusion mechanisms that form the foundation of many modern PHP applications.