high CVSS 7.5

CVE-2024-50435·PHP vulnerability

Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in themehorse Meta News meta-news.This issue affects Meta News: from n/a through <= 1.1.7.

Severity
high
Software
PHP
Fixed in
1.1.8
Published
2024-10-28

Affected versions

Until: 1.1.8

Fixed in: 1.1.8

How to fix this CVE

Update the Meta News WordPress theme to version 1.1.8 or later to eliminate the local file inclusion vulnerability that allows attackers to include arbitrary files through improper filename validation. Ensure your PHP installation is current and all WordPress themes are kept up-to-date through your site's admin dashboard or package manager. If you are unable to update immediately, restrict access to theme directories and monitor for suspicious file inclusion attempts in your web server logs.

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:

GET request containing query parameters that reference file path traversal sequences (e.g., /../, ..\, %2e%2e%2f) combined with include/require function names in theme template files; regex: (?:include|require)\s*\(\s*\$_(GET|POST|REQUEST).*\.\/

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 HTTP requests containing path traversal sequences (../, ..\ , %2e%2e%2f, %252e) in URI parameters and POST bodies targeting WordPress theme directories, and deny requests to theme files that accept dynamic file inclusion parameters.

How to check if you are affected

  1. Check installed PHP version: php -v
  2. Verify Meta News theme version in WordPress by navigating to Appearance > Themes and inspecting the active theme's version number, or use: grep -r 'Version:' /path/to/wp-content/themes/meta-news/style.css
  3. Search web server logs for suspicious include/require patterns: grep -iE '\$_(GET|POST|REQUEST).*include|require' /var/log/apache2/access.log or /var/log/nginx/access.log
  4. Confirm the patch by verifying theme version is >= 1.1.8: curl -s https://api.wordpress.org/themes/info/1.0/meta-news.json | grep version

FAQ

What is CVE-2024-50435?

CVE-2024-50435 is a local file inclusion (LFI) vulnerability in the Meta News WordPress theme that allows attackers to bypass filename validation and include arbitrary local files through improper control of include/require statements in PHP, potentially leading to information disclosure or remote code execution.

Is CVE-2024-50435 being actively exploited?

No, CVE-2024-50435 is not currently listed on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog and no public exploits have been published, though organizations should still prioritize patching as the attack surface remains available.

What versions of Meta News theme are affected by CVE-2024-50435?

All versions of the Meta News theme from the initial release through version 1.1.7 are vulnerable; version 1.1.8 and later contain the security fix.

How do I check if my WordPress site is vulnerable to CVE-2024-50435?

Log into your WordPress admin dashboard, go to Appearance > Themes, and verify the Meta News theme version. If it shows 1.1.7 or earlier, your site is vulnerable and requires an immediate update.

Does Defensia detect CVE-2024-50435?

Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If PHP and WordPress themes are installed on a monitored server, CVE-2024-50435 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.

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References

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