critical CVSS 9.8

CVE-2024-6459·PHP vulnerability

The News Element Elementor Blog Magazine WordPress plugin before 1.0.6 is vulnerable to Local File Inclusion via the template parameter. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attacker to include and execute PHP files on the server, allowing the execution of any PHP code in those files.

Severity
critical
Software
PHP
Fixed in
1.0.6
Published
2024-08-17

Affected versions

Until: 1.0.6

Fixed in: 1.0.6

How to fix this CVE

Immediately upgrade the News Element Elementor Blog Magazine WordPress plugin to version 1.0.6 or later to patch the Local File Inclusion vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code. If you cannot update immediately, disable or remove the plugin until a patched version can be deployed. Review your server logs for signs of exploitation targeting the template parameter.

sudo dnf update php

Defensia detects this vulnerability

What an exploitation attempt looks like

Sample log line indicative of exploitation attempts:

GET|POST.*template=\.\.\/|GET|POST.*template=%2e%2e%2f|GET|POST.*template=['"].*\.(php|txt|log|conf)

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 any HTTP requests containing the 'template' parameter with path traversal sequences (../, ..\, %2e%2e%2f, %252e%252e%252f) or suspicious file extensions (.php, .conf, .log, .env). Additionally, enforce strict input validation on WordPress plugin parameters and consider disabling the plugin at the web server level if an immediate update is not feasible.

How to check if you are affected

  1. Step 1: Check if PHP and WordPress are running with: php -v && wp --version (if WP-CLI is installed)
  2. Step 2: Verify the News Element Elementor Blog Magazine plugin version by checking wp-content/plugins/news-element-elementor/news-element-elementor.php for the 'Version:' header line
  3. Step 3: Search Apache/Nginx access logs for requests containing 'template=' parameter followed by file paths: grep -r 'template=' /var/log/apache2/access.log* /var/log/nginx/access.log*
  4. Step 4: Confirm the plugin has been updated to version 1.0.6+ by re-checking the version header after applying updates

FAQ

What is CVE-2024-6459?

CVE-2024-6459 is a critical Local File Inclusion vulnerability in the News Element Elementor Blog Magazine WordPress plugin that allows unauthenticated attackers to include arbitrary PHP files and execute code on the web server by manipulating the template parameter.

Is CVE-2024-6459 being actively exploited?

CVE-2024-6459 is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, and no public exploits have been published, though organizations should still treat this critical vulnerability with high priority.

What versions of PHP are affected by CVE-2024-6459?

The vulnerability affects the News Element Elementor Blog Magazine WordPress plugin in versions prior to 1.0.6. All PHP versions running this vulnerable plugin are at risk.

How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2024-6459?

Navigate to wp-content/plugins/news-element-elementor/ and check the plugin header for version information, or use: grep -i 'Version:' /path/to/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/news-element-elementor/news-element-elementor.php. If the version is below 1.0.6, your site is vulnerable.

Does Defensia detect CVE-2024-6459?

Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If PHP and the vulnerable WordPress plugin are installed on a monitored server, CVE-2024-6459 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.

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References

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