CVE-2024-9529 in Secure Custom Fields Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/15/2024
The Secure Custom Fields WordPress plugin before 6.3.9, Secure Custom Fields WordPress plugin before 6.3.6.3, Advanced Custom Fields Pro WordPress plugin before 6.3.9 does not prevent users from running arbitrary functions through its setting import functionalities, which could allow high privilege users such as admin to run arbitrary PHP functions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-9529 affects multiple WordPress plugin versions including Secure Custom Fields and Advanced Custom Fields Pro, representing a critical security flaw in the plugin's import functionality. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the plugin's settings import mechanisms, creating a path for privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability specifically targets high-privilege users such as administrators who possess the ability to import settings, allowing them to execute arbitrary PHP functions through crafted import data. The flaw exists in the plugin's handling of user-supplied input during the import process, where the system fails to properly validate or sanitize the data before processing it as executable code. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-94, which describes "Improper Control of Generation of Code" and represents a code injection vulnerability that enables arbitrary code execution. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation as it provides attackers with the ability to execute malicious PHP code with the privileges of the affected WordPress installation. Security researchers have identified that the vulnerability allows for remote code execution capabilities when exploited by users with administrative privileges, making it particularly dangerous in environments where plugin administrators have elevated access rights.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-9529 is severe and can result in complete compromise of affected WordPress installations. Attackers with administrative access can leverage this vulnerability to upload malicious files, modify existing code, establish backdoors, or perform data exfiltration from the compromised system. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require complex attack vectors since it targets the legitimate import functionality that administrators routinely use for plugin configuration management. This creates a dangerous scenario where legitimate administrative activities become attack vectors, making detection and prevention more challenging. The attack surface is particularly wide as the vulnerability affects multiple plugin versions across different plugin families, increasing the potential for exploitation across various WordPress installations. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1566.001 for "Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment" as attackers could use the import functionality to execute malicious code after gaining initial access. The vulnerability also aligns with T1078.004 for "Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts" when attackers leverage compromised administrator credentials to exploit the functionality.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-9529 primarily focus on immediate plugin updates to versions 6.3.9 or later, which contain patches addressing the input validation issues. Organizations should also implement strict access controls and privilege separation, ensuring that only essential personnel have administrative access to WordPress installations. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual import activities or attempts to execute PHP code through the plugin interface. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts by monitoring for suspicious import data patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices, particularly in validating and sanitizing user input before processing it as executable code. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other plugins and themes. Additionally, implementing automated patch management systems can help ensure timely updates to address such vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider maintaining detailed logs of all plugin import activities and implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of updated plugins to ensure compatibility and prevent regressions in functionality while addressing the security vulnerability.