high CVSS 8.8

CVE-2024-10873·PHP vulnerability

The LA-Studio Element Kit for Elementor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Local File Inclusion in all versions up to, and including, 1.4.2 via the _load_template function. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Contributor-level access and above, to include and execute arbitrary files on the server, allowing the execution of any PHP code in those files. This can be used to bypass access controls, obtain sensitive data, or achieve code execution in cases where images and other “safe” file types can be uploaded and included.

Severity
high
Software
PHP
Fixed in
1.4.3
Published
2024-11-23

Affected versions

Until: 1.4.3

Fixed in: 1.4.3

How to fix this CVE

Update the LA-Studio Element Kit for Elementor plugin to version 1.4.3 or later to patch the local file inclusion vulnerability in the _load_template function. This vulnerability allows authenticated contributors and above to bypass file access restrictions and execute arbitrary PHP code through improperly validated file inclusion. Immediately upgrade the plugin and audit any uploaded files that may have been included during the exposure window.

sudo dnf check-update php && sudo dnf upgrade php

Defensia detects this vulnerability

What an exploitation attempt looks like

Sample log line indicative of exploitation attempts:

POST|GET /wp-content/plugins/lastudio-element-kit/includes/extensions/albums/widget-templates/player/.*\?.*(_load_template|template|file)=.*(\.\.\/|\.\.\\/|etc\/passwd|proc\/self)

WAF mitigation (if patching is not yet possible)

Add this rule to your WAF to block exploitation attempts while you schedule the patch. 

Implement a Web Application Firewall rule to block requests to the lastudio-element-kit plugin directories that contain path traversal sequences (../) or attempts to load suspicious file paths, particularly targeting the _load_template parameter and album player template endpoints. Restrict access to plugin template inclusion endpoints to authenticated users only and validate all file parameters against a whitelist of allowed templates.

How to check if you are affected

  1. Check the installed LA-Studio Element Kit version: grep -r 'Version:' /path/to/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/lastudio-element-kit/lastudio-element-kit.php | head -1
  2. Verify the plugin is active and accessible: curl -s https://your-site.com/wp-content/plugins/lastudio-element-kit/ | head -20
  3. Search WordPress access logs for requests to _load_template or widget-templates/player paths: grep -E '_load_template|widget-templates/player' /var/log/apache2/access.log /var/log/nginx/access.log 2>/dev/null
  4. Confirm the patch by re-running the version check command and verifying version 1.4.3 or higher is installed

Indicators of compromise

  • wp-content/plugins/lastudio-element-kit/includes/extensions/albums/widget-templates/player/
  • _load_template parameter in plugin requests
  • lastudio-element-kit version < 1.4.3

FAQ

What is CVE-2024-10873?

CVE-2024-10873 is a local file inclusion vulnerability in the LA-Studio Element Kit for Elementor WordPress plugin that allows authenticated users with Contributor-level or higher permissions to execute arbitrary PHP code by including files on the server through the _load_template function.

Is CVE-2024-10873 being actively exploited?

No, CVE-2024-10873 is not currently listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, and no public exploits are currently available, though the vulnerability is high-severity and should be patched immediately.

What versions of the LA-Studio Element Kit are affected by CVE-2024-10873?

All versions up to and including 1.4.2 are vulnerable; version 1.4.3 and later contain the fix.

How do I check if my WordPress installation is vulnerable to CVE-2024-10873?

Access your WordPress plugins directory and check the version of LA-Studio Element Kit; if it is version 1.4.2 or earlier and your site has Contributors or higher-level users, you are vulnerable and must update immediately.

Does Defensia detect CVE-2024-10873?

Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If the LA-Studio Element Kit for Elementor plugin is installed on a monitored WordPress server, CVE-2024-10873 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.

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References

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