CVE-2024-30225 in WP Migrate Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/28/2024
Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability in WPENGINE, INC. WP Migrate.This issue affects WP Migrate: from n/a through 2.6.10.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2024
The CVE-2024-30225 vulnerability represents a critical deserialization of untrusted data flaw within the WP Migrate plugin developed by WPENGINE, INC. This vulnerability exists in versions ranging from the initial release through 2.6.10, creating a significant security risk for WordPress installations that utilize this migration tool. The issue stems from the plugin's improper handling of serialized data structures, which can be manipulated by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. Deserialization vulnerabilities occur when applications deserialize untrusted data without adequate validation or sanitization, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that can be executed during the deserialization process.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves an attacker crafting malicious serialized data that, when processed by the WP Migrate plugin, triggers unintended code execution. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-502 category, specifically addressing deserialization of untrusted data, which is a well-documented weakness in software development practices. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a code injection technique under the T1059.007 sub-technique, where adversaries leverage serialized data structures to execute malicious commands. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it allows for remote code execution, potentially enabling attackers to gain full control over affected WordPress installations.
The operational implications of CVE-2024-30225 extend beyond simple data compromise, as it provides attackers with the capability to establish persistent access, exfiltrate sensitive information, and potentially use the compromised system as a launchpad for further attacks within a network. WordPress sites using the affected WP Migrate plugin become vulnerable to unauthorized modifications, data theft, and complete system takeover. The vulnerability affects not just individual websites but entire WordPress ecosystems, particularly those that rely on the plugin for migration operations, which are common in development, staging, and production environments.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of the WP Migrate plugin where available, as well as implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious deserialization attempts. Additionally, administrators should conduct thorough security audits of their WordPress installations to identify any potential exploitation attempts and ensure proper input validation is implemented. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of validating all data inputs, particularly those that may be serialized or contain embedded structures. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and consider implementing additional layers of security controls including privileged access management and regular security scanning of their WordPress environments.