CVE-2024-49684 in Backup and Staging by WP Time Capsule Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/23/2024
Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability in revmakx Backup and Staging by WP Time Capsule wp-time-capsule allows Object Injection.This issue affects Backup and Staging by WP Time Capsule: from n/a through <= 1.22.21.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2026
The vulnerability CVE-2024-49684 represents a critical deserialization flaw in the Backup and Staging plugin by WP Time Capsule, specifically impacting versions prior to 1.22.21. This issue falls under the category of deserialization of untrusted data, which is classified as CWE-502 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The vulnerability occurs when the plugin processes user-supplied data through PHP's unserialize() function without adequate validation or sanitization, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary objects into the application's memory space.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables attackers to perform object injection attacks by crafting specially formatted serialized data that, when processed by the vulnerable plugin, results in the instantiation of malicious objects. This type of attack can lead to remote code execution, privilege escalation, or data manipulation within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to bypass normal authentication mechanisms and potentially gain full administrative control over the affected WordPress installation. The issue stems from the plugin's failure to implement proper input validation and sanitization routines before processing serialized data from external sources.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-49684 extends beyond simple data corruption or unauthorized access, as it can enable attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target system. This capability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, and T1566.001 for spearphishing attachments, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads through compromised backup or staging operations. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the backup and staging plugin, which are critical components for WordPress site management, making it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking persistent access to target environments. Organizations running affected versions of the plugin face significant risk of data breaches, service disruption, and potential compromise of entire WordPress networks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of the affected plugin to version 1.22.21 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. System administrators should also implement network monitoring to detect unusual deserialization activities and consider implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious serialized data. The remediation process should include comprehensive security audits of all WordPress plugins and themes to identify similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also establish robust patch management procedures and regularly scan their systems for known vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures, such as using allowlists for data processing and avoiding direct use of unserialize() with untrusted data, will help prevent similar issues in the future. Security teams should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regularly review plugin permissions to minimize potential attack surface.