CVE-2024-33641 in Custom field finder Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/29/2024
Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability in Team Yoast Custom field finder.This issue affects Custom field finder: from n/a through 0.3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-33641 represents a critical deserialization of untrusted data flaw within the Team Yoast Custom field finder plugin, specifically impacting versions ranging from n/a through 0.3. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of insecure deserialization as classified by CWE-502, where applications improperly handle serialized data from untrusted sources. The issue stems from the plugin's failure to properly validate and sanitize serialized objects before processing them, creating an attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows for remote code execution when an attacker can manipulate serialized data that gets processed by the plugin's deserialization mechanism.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the Custom field finder plugin receives serialized data from user input or external sources without proper validation. When the plugin attempts to deserialize this data, it processes potentially malicious serialized objects that contain code execution instructions. This flaw enables attackers to craft specially crafted serialized payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable plugin, result in unauthorized code execution. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various attack vectors including web-based interfaces where the plugin is installed and configured. The deserialization process itself becomes a point of compromise when the application lacks proper input sanitization and validation mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and can lead to complete system compromise when exploited successfully. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands on the affected server, potentially gaining full administrative control over the WordPress installation. This allows for data exfiltration, modification of website content, creation of backdoor accounts, and deployment of additional malicious software. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate functionality of the Custom field finder plugin but can also provide attackers with a foothold for further lateral movement within the network infrastructure. Organizations running vulnerable versions of this plugin face significant risk of data breaches and service disruption, with potential financial and reputational consequences.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-33641 should prioritize immediate remediation through version updates and patches provided by the plugin developers. Organizations should implement strict input validation and sanitization measures to prevent untrusted data from being processed through deserialization mechanisms. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that the plugin operates with minimal required permissions and that serialized data processing is restricted to trusted sources only. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous deserialization activities and potential exploitation attempts. Security configurations should include disabling unnecessary deserialization features and implementing proper access controls for plugin installations. Additionally, regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues within the broader application ecosystem, aligning with ATT&CK framework techniques related to command and control and privilege escalation.