high CVSS 7.5

CVE-2024-50457·PHP vulnerability

Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in Qode Qode Essential Addons qode-essential-addons.This issue affects Qode Essential Addons: from n/a through <= 1.6.3.

Severity
high
Software
PHP
Fixed in
1.6.4
Published
2024-10-28

Affected versions

Until: 1.6.4

Fixed in: 1.6.4

How to fix this CVE

Update the Qode Essential Addons plugin to version 1.6.4 or later to patch the local file inclusion vulnerability. This vulnerability allows authenticated attackers to include and execute arbitrary local files through improper filename handling in the plugin's include/require statements. Ensure your WordPress installation and all plugins are kept current to prevent exploitation.

sudo dnf update php

Defensia detects this vulnerability

What an exploitation attempt looks like

Sample log line indicative of exploitation attempts:

POST|GET.*qode-essential-addons.*(?:include|require|file|path)=(?:.*\/\.\.\/|.*\/etc\/|.*\/var\/|.*\/proc\/|.*\/sys\/)

WAF mitigation (if patching is not yet possible)

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

Block requests to Qode Essential Addons plugin endpoints containing path traversal sequences (../, ..\) or absolute file paths (/etc/, /var/, /proc/, /sys/) in query parameters named 'file', 'path', 'include', or 'require'. Implement strict input validation to allow only alphanumeric characters and permitted delimiters in file path parameters.

How to check if you are affected

  1. Step 1: Check the installed version of the Qode Essential Addons plugin by navigating to WordPress Admin > Plugins and locating 'Qode Essential Addons'. The version number appears next to the plugin name.
  2. Step 2: If version 1.6.3 or earlier is installed, the plugin is vulnerable. Confirm by examining the plugin's readme.txt or main plugin file in /wp-content/plugins/qode-essential-addons/
  3. Step 3: Search WordPress access logs for POST/GET requests to the plugin's sensitive endpoints with suspicious file path parameters (e.g., requests containing '../' or absolute file paths like '/etc/passwd' or '/var/www/html/')
  4. Step 4: After updating to version 1.6.4, verify the update completed by re-checking the plugin version in WordPress Admin and confirming no errors appear in wp-debug.log

FAQ

What is CVE-2024-50457?

CVE-2024-50457 is a local file inclusion (LFI) vulnerability in the Qode Essential Addons WordPress plugin affecting versions up to 1.6.3. The vulnerability arises from insufficient validation of file paths in PHP include/require statements, allowing authenticated users to load and potentially execute arbitrary local files on the server.

Is CVE-2024-50457 being actively exploited?

No, CVE-2024-50457 is not currently listed on the CISA KEV catalog and no public exploit code has been released, but organizations should still update immediately due to the high CVSS score of 7.5.

What versions of the Qode Essential Addons plugin are affected by CVE-2024-50457?

All versions of Qode Essential Addons from the initial release through version 1.6.3 are vulnerable. Version 1.6.4 and later contain the security patch.

How do I check if my WordPress site is vulnerable to CVE-2024-50457?

Log into your WordPress admin dashboard, navigate to Plugins, and verify the version number of 'Qode Essential Addons'. If it shows 1.6.3 or earlier, your site is vulnerable and requires immediate update to version 1.6.4 or newer.

Does Defensia detect CVE-2024-50457?

Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If the Qode Essential Addons plugin is active on a monitored WordPress server, CVE-2024-50457 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.

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References

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