high CVSS 7.5 EPSS 0.44%

CVE-2024-4887·PHP vulnerability

The Qi Addons For Elementor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Local File Inclusion in all versions up to, and including, 1.7.2 via the 'behavior' attributes found in the qi_addons_for_elementor_blog_list shortcode. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Contributor-level access and above, to include and execute arbitrary .php 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 .php file types can be uploaded and included. Please note that this requires an attacker to create a non-existent directory or target an instance where file_exists won't return false with a non-existent directory in the path, in order to successfully exploit.

Severity
high
Software
PHP
Fixed in
1.7.3
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 0.44% — higher than 63% 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-2024-4887 scores 7.5 on CVSS, so a successful attack would be serious — but at 0.44%, 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: 1.7.3

Fixed in: 1.7.3

How to fix this CVE

Update the Qi Addons For Elementor WordPress plugin to version 1.7.3 or later to patch the Local File Inclusion vulnerability in the qi_addons_for_elementor_blog_list shortcode. This vulnerability allows authenticated contributors and above to include and execute arbitrary PHP files, potentially leading to unauthorized code execution. Immediately audit your WordPress installation for any suspicious file uploads or plugin activity prior to patching.

sudo dnf update php

Defensia detects this vulnerability

What an exploitation attempt looks like

Sample log line indicative of exploitation attempts:

POST|GET requests containing qi_addons_for_elementor_blog_list shortcode with 'behavior' parameter followed by path traversal sequences (../, ..\, or absolute paths to .php files); example pattern: (?i)qi_addons_for_elementor_blog_list.*behavior['"]?\s*(?:=>|=)\s*['"]?(?:\.\./|\.\.\\|/[a-z0-9_/-]+\.php)

WAF mitigation (if patching is not yet possible)

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

Implement WAF rules to block requests containing the qi_addons_for_elementor_blog_list shortcode paired with 'behavior' parameters that include path traversal sequences or absolute file paths. Additionally, restrict POST requests to wp-admin with Contributor-level privileges attempting to render shortcodes with file inclusion patterns.

How to check if you are affected

  1. Step 1: Check the Qi Addons For Elementor plugin version by running: wp plugin list --search=qi-addons-for-elementor in your WordPress root directory
  2. Step 2: Verify if the vulnerable shortcode is actively used by searching your WordPress database: mysql -u {user} -p {db_name} -e "SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE post_content LIKE '%qi_addons_for_elementor_blog_list%'"
  3. Step 3: Review web server logs for suspicious requests targeting the blog_list shortcode with unusual 'behavior' parameters: grep -i 'qi_addons_for_elementor_blog_list.*behavior' /var/log/apache2/access.log
  4. Step 4: Confirm the patch by running: wp plugin list --search=qi-addons-for-elementor and verify the version is 1.7.3 or higher

FAQ

What is CVE-2024-4887?

CVE-2024-4887 is a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability in the Qi Addons For Elementor WordPress plugin that allows authenticated users with Contributor-level permissions to include and execute arbitrary PHP files on the server through the 'behavior' parameter of the qi_addons_for_elementor_blog_list shortcode.

Is CVE-2024-4887 being actively exploited?

No, CVE-2024-4887 is not currently listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog and no public exploits are available, though the vulnerability should still be treated as high priority given its CVSS 7.5 severity score and ease of exploitation for authenticated attackers.

What versions of the Qi Addons For Elementor plugin are affected by CVE-2024-4887?

All versions up to and including 1.7.2 are vulnerable. Version 1.7.3 and later contain the security fix.

How do I check if my WordPress site is vulnerable to CVE-2024-4887?

Run the command: wp plugin list --search=qi-addons-for-elementor in your WordPress directory and check the version number. If it shows 1.7.2 or lower, your site is vulnerable.

Does Defensia detect CVE-2024-4887?

Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If the Qi Addons For Elementor plugin is active on a monitored WordPress installation, CVE-2024-4887 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.

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References

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