high CVSS 7.5 EPSS 0.58%

CVE-2024-43140·PHP vulnerability

Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') vulnerability in G5Theme Ultimate Bootstrap Elements for Elementor allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Ultimate Bootstrap Elements for Elementor: from n/a through 1.4.4.

Severity
high
Software
PHP
Fixed in
1.4.5
Published

How likely is exploitation

FIRST's Exploit Prediction Scoring System puts the probability of this CVE being exploited in the next 30 days at 0.58% — higher than 44% of all published CVEs. EPSS is an independent forecast of exploitation, not a severity rating: it says nothing about how much damage a successful attack does, which is what a CVSS score measures.

Read the two together. CVE-2024-43140 scores 7.5 on CVSS, so a successful attack would be serious — but at 0.58%, almost nobody is currently attempting it. That is a different situation from a flaw under mass exploitation, and it is usually the difference between patching on your next maintenance window and patching tonight.

Affected versions

Until: 1.4.5

Fixed in: 1.4.5

How to fix this CVE

Update the Ultimate Bootstrap Elements for Elementor plugin to version 1.4.5 or later to remediate the path traversal vulnerability that enables local file inclusion attacks. This vulnerability allows authenticated attackers to access restricted files on the server by manipulating file path parameters. Immediately patch your WordPress installations running this plugin, particularly those exposed to untrusted user roles.

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 requests to the Ultimate Bootstrap Elements plugin with parameters containing encoded or literal path traversal sequences such as: (?:plugin|element|file|path)=(?:%2e%2e%2f|\.\.\/)+ targeting sensitive files like wp-config.php, /etc/passwd, or .env

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 WAF rule to block requests to the Ultimate Bootstrap Elements plugin endpoint that contain path traversal patterns (../, ..\ , %2e%2e%2f, etc.) in file or path parameters. Additionally, restrict access to the plugin administration endpoints to known administrative IP ranges.

How to check if you are affected

  1. Step 1: Check the installed PHP version and plugin version with: php -v && wp plugin list --allow-root | grep ultimate-bootstrap-elements-for-elementor
  2. Step 2: Verify if Ultimate Bootstrap Elements for Elementor is active by checking the WordPress plugins directory: ls -la wp-content/plugins/ultimate-bootstrap-elements-for-elementor/
  3. Step 3: Search web server logs for path traversal patterns targeting the plugin: grep -E '(\.\.|\.\./|%2e%2e)' /var/log/apache2/access.log /var/log/nginx/access.log | grep ultimate-bootstrap
  4. Step 4: Confirm the fix by verifying the plugin version matches 1.4.5 or higher: grep Version wp-content/plugins/ultimate-bootstrap-elements-for-elementor/readme.txt

FAQ

What is CVE-2024-43140?

CVE-2024-43140 is a path traversal vulnerability in the Ultimate Bootstrap Elements for Elementor WordPress plugin that allows authenticated users to read arbitrary files from the server through improper directory restriction handling, leading to local file inclusion attacks.

Is CVE-2024-43140 being actively exploited?

No, according to CISA KEV data, CVE-2024-43140 is not currently listed as actively exploited in the wild, and no public exploit code is publicly available.

What versions of the plugin are affected by CVE-2024-43140?

Ultimate Bootstrap Elements for Elementor versions up to and including 1.4.4 are vulnerable; version 1.4.5 and later contain the fix.

How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2024-43140?

Run: wp plugin get ultimate-bootstrap-elements-for-elementor --field=version --allow-root to retrieve the installed version number and compare it against 1.4.4.

Does Defensia detect CVE-2024-43140?

Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If the Ultimate Bootstrap Elements for Elementor plugin is installed on a monitored WordPress server, CVE-2024-43140 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.

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References

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