CVE-2024-5431 in WPCafe Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/25/2024
The WPCafe – Online Food Ordering, Restaurant Menu, Delivery, and Reservations for WooCommerce plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Local File Inclusion in all versions up to, and including, 2.2.25 via the reservation_extra_field shortcode parameter. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Contributor-level access and above, to include remote files on the server, potentially resulting in code execution
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-5431 affects the WPCafe plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions up to and including 2.2.25. This plugin facilitates online food ordering, restaurant menu management, delivery services, and reservation systems for WooCommerce platforms. The issue stems from improper input validation within the reservation_extra_field shortcode parameter, creating a dangerous pathway for malicious actors to manipulate file inclusion mechanisms. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only Contributor-level access or higher, making it accessible to users who can edit content but not necessarily administer the entire site. This access level is commonly granted to content creators, editors, and other trusted users who may not have full administrative privileges, yet can still exploit this weakness to compromise the system.
The technical flaw manifests through a local file inclusion vulnerability that allows authenticated attackers to manipulate the shortcode parameter and potentially include remote files on the target server. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The attack vector specifically exploits how the plugin processes user-supplied input in the reservation_extra_field parameter without adequate sanitization or validation. When an attacker submits malicious input through this parameter, the plugin's processing logic fails to properly validate or escape the input, allowing arbitrary file paths to be constructed and executed. This vulnerability creates a direct pathway for remote code execution, as attackers can leverage the file inclusion mechanism to execute arbitrary code on the server with the privileges of the web application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or service disruption, as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for more extensive compromise. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can execute arbitrary code on the affected server, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or the installation of persistent backdoors. The low privilege requirement makes this particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users have contributor access, as it could be exploited by insiders or compromised user accounts. The vulnerability affects WordPress installations using the WPCafe plugin, which are common in the hospitality and food service industry, making numerous businesses potentially vulnerable to this attack vector. The risk is compounded by the fact that many WordPress sites do not regularly update their plugins, leaving older versions with known vulnerabilities exposed to exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-5431 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the file inclusion vulnerability, as this represents the most direct solution to the problem. Organizations should implement strict input validation and sanitization measures for all user-supplied data, particularly in shortcode parameters and other dynamic content handling mechanisms. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting contributor-level access to only necessary functionality and monitoring user activities that involve content modifications. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring and filtering suspicious requests targeting the vulnerable shortcode parameter. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins and themes. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1505.003, which describes server-side include attacks, and demonstrates the importance of proper input validation as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten project. System administrators should also implement automated monitoring solutions that can detect unusual file inclusion patterns or attempts to execute code through web interfaces, providing early warning capabilities for potential exploitation attempts.