CVE-2024-5969 in Aiomatic Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/27/2024
The AIomatic - Automatic AI Content Writer for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary email sending vulnerability in versions up to, and including, 2.0.5. This is due to insufficient limitations on the email recipient and the content in the 'aiomatic_send_email' function which are reachable via AJAX. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to send emails with any content to any recipient.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-5969 affects the AIomatic - Automatic AI Content Writer plugin for WordPress, specifically versions up to and including 2.0.5. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of email communication within WordPress environments. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the plugin's core functionality, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's email sending capabilities. The issue manifests through the 'aiomatic_send_email' function which is accessible via AJAX endpoints, making it particularly dangerous as it bypasses normal WordPress authentication mechanisms. This flaw allows attackers to leverage the plugin's legitimate email functionality for unauthorized communication, potentially leading to spam campaigns, phishing attacks, or other malicious activities that could compromise both the website and its users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the insufficient sanitization of parameters within the AJAX handler for email sending operations. The 'aiomatic_send_email' function fails to properly validate or filter the recipient email addresses and content parameters that are passed through the request. This lack of input validation creates a classic path for arbitrary code execution or data manipulation through email injection techniques. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-74 which describes improper neutralization of special elements in output used by a downstream component, specifically in the context of email handling. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require authentication, making it particularly attractive to attackers who can leverage it without prior access to the WordPress admin panel or user credentials. The AJAX endpoint structure allows for rapid exploitation and can be easily automated, amplifying the potential impact of such attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-5969 extends beyond simple spam generation to encompass broader security implications for affected WordPress installations. Unauthenticated attackers can utilize this vulnerability to send emails with arbitrary content to any recipient address, potentially enabling phishing campaigns or social engineering attacks that leverage the legitimate website's reputation. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited repeatedly, as there are no authentication requirements for the malicious email sending functionality. This weakness directly violates security principles outlined in the ATT&CK framework under T1192 - Spearphishing Attachments and T1566 - Phishing, as it provides attackers with a mechanism to bypass normal email security controls. The affected websites may experience damage to their reputation, potential blacklisting by email providers, and increased risk of user data compromise through the phishing vectors that can be constructed using this vulnerability.
Organizations and WordPress administrators should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability, beginning with the mandatory update to the latest available plugin version where the issue has been resolved. The patch should include comprehensive input validation, parameter sanitization, and the implementation of proper access controls for the AJAX endpoints. Additionally, administrators should review their existing email logs for any suspicious activity that may indicate exploitation attempts. Network-level protections such as rate limiting on AJAX endpoints and monitoring for unusual email sending patterns can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious requests targeting the vulnerable function. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that legitimate email functionality remains intact while the vulnerability is patched. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of the website infrastructure.