CVE-2024-54367 in ForumWP Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/16/2024
Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability in ForumWP ForumWP allows Object Injection.This issue affects ForumWP: from n/a through 2.1.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-54367 represents a critical deserialization flaw in the ForumWP WordPress plugin that enables object injection attacks. This vulnerability exists within the plugin's handling of untrusted data during the deserialization process, creating a pathway for attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The issue is specifically present in ForumWP versions ranging from the initial release through version 2.1.0, indicating a widespread exposure across multiple iterations of the plugin. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and sanitization of data that is processed through PHP's unserialize function, which is commonly used for reconstructing objects from serialized string representations. This flaw aligns with CWE-502, which categorizes deserialization of untrusted data as a critical security weakness that can lead to remote code execution and complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or denial of service scenarios. Attackers can leverage this weakness to inject malicious objects that, when deserialized, execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected WordPress installation. This creates a severe threat landscape where compromised forums can serve as entry points for broader network infiltration, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor establishment. The vulnerability's exploitation potential is particularly concerning given that ForumWP is a forum plugin that typically handles user-generated content and interactions, making it a natural target for attackers seeking to leverage legitimate user activity to execute malicious payloads. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that forum plugins often have elevated permissions and access to core WordPress functionality, increasing the potential damage from successful exploitation.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a prime example of how insufficient input validation can create severe remote code execution opportunities within web applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1210 - Exploitation of Remote Services, where attackers can leverage deserialization flaws to gain unauthorized access to systems. Organizations running affected versions of ForumWP should immediately implement mitigations including plugin updates to versions that address this vulnerability, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious deserialization patterns, and conducting thorough security audits of forum data. Additionally, administrators should consider restricting file permissions on the WordPress installation and implementing monitoring for unusual deserialization activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper secure coding practices, particularly in handling untrusted data inputs, and serves as a reminder of the need for regular security assessments and timely patch management to prevent exploitation of such fundamental flaws in widely-used web applications.