CVE-2024-7435 in Attire Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/31/2024
The Attire theme for WordPress is vulnerable to PHP Object Injection in all versions up to, and including, 2.0.6 via deserialization of untrusted input. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Contributor-level access and above, to inject a PHP Object. No known POP chain is present in the vulnerable software. If a POP chain is present via an additional plugin or theme installed on the target system, it could allow the attacker to delete arbitrary files, retrieve sensitive data, or execute code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2024
The Attire theme for WordPress presents a critical security vulnerability classified as PHP Object Injection through improper deserialization of untrusted input. This flaw affects all versions up to and including 2.0.6, creating a significant risk for WordPress installations that utilize this theme. The vulnerability specifically targets authenticated attackers who possess Contributor-level access or higher privileges, making it particularly concerning as it can be exploited by users with relatively low permissions within a WordPress environment. The attack vector involves the deserialization process where malicious PHP objects are injected into the application, potentially leading to severe consequences for the affected system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the theme's failure to properly validate and sanitize user input during the object deserialization process. When the theme processes data that contains serialized PHP objects, it does not adequately verify the source or content of this data, allowing attackers to craft malicious payloads that can be executed within the application context. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-502 category, which specifically addresses Deserialization of Untrusted Data, making it a well-documented and dangerous security flaw in web applications. The vulnerability's classification as PHP Object Injection aligns with the broader ATT&CK framework's T1548.005 technique for Abuse of Least Privilege, as attackers can leverage their contributor access to escalate their privileges within the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, as it provides attackers with potential pathways to execute arbitrary code on the affected WordPress system. While no known POP (Point of No Return) chain exists within the vulnerable theme itself, the absence of such a chain does not mitigate the overall risk, as attackers can potentially leverage the object injection vulnerability through additional plugins or themes installed on the same system. This creates a dangerous scenario where the initial vulnerability can serve as a stepping stone for more severe attacks, potentially allowing unauthorized file deletion, data exfiltration, or complete system compromise. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only Contributor-level access, which is often easily obtained through social engineering or credential theft attacks, making it particularly attractive to threat actors.
Organizations using the Attire theme should prioritize immediate remediation by updating to the latest version where this vulnerability has been addressed. System administrators should also implement additional security measures including input validation, proper access controls, and monitoring for suspicious activities within the WordPress admin area. The vulnerability's impact is amplified when considering that attackers can potentially chain this injection with other vulnerabilities present in the system's plugin ecosystem, making comprehensive security assessments essential. Regular security audits and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify and remediate similar issues in other installed plugins and themes. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and proper security configurations can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability.