critical CVSS 9.8

CVE-2024-9047·PHP vulnerability

The WordPress File Upload plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Path Traversal in all versions up to, and including, 4.24.11 via wfu_file_downloader.php. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to read or delete files outside of the originally intended directory. Successful exploitation requires the targeted WordPress installation to be using PHP 7.4 or earlier.

Severity
critical
Software
PHP
Fixed in
4.24.12
Published
2024-10-12

Affected versions

Until: 4.24.12

Fixed in: 4.24.12

How to fix this CVE

Update the WordPress File Upload plugin to version 4.24.12 or later to patch a critical path traversal vulnerability affecting PHP 7.4 and earlier installations. If you are running PHP 7.4 or below, prioritize this update immediately as it allows unauthenticated attackers to read or delete arbitrary files on your server. Verify that your WordPress installation has the latest plugin version deployed and test file access controls after applying the patch.

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.*wfu_file_downloader\.php.*\?.*action=download.*file=(\.\./|\.\.\\|%2e%2e%2f|%2e%2e%5c)

WAF mitigation (if patching is not yet possible)

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

Block or rate-limit requests to wfu_file_downloader.php containing path traversal sequences (../, ..\, %2e%2e%2f, %2e%2e%5c) in the 'file' parameter; implement strict input validation to reject non-alphanumeric filenames.

How to check if you are affected

  1. Check installed PHP version: php -v
  2. Verify WordPress File Upload plugin version: grep Version /path/to/wp-content/plugins/wp-file-upload/wp-file-upload.php | head -1
  3. Search web server logs for requests to wfu_file_downloader.php with path traversal payloads (../, ..\, etc.): grep -i 'wfu_file_downloader\.php' /var/log/apache2/access.log | grep -E '(\.\./|\.\.\\)'
  4. After patching, confirm plugin version is 4.24.12 or later and verify PHP version is upgraded to 7.5+ or 8.x: php -v && grep Version /path/to/wp-content/plugins/wp-file-upload/wp-file-upload.php

FAQ

What is CVE-2024-9047?

CVE-2024-9047 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in the WordPress File Upload plugin that enables unauthenticated attackers to read or delete files outside the intended upload directory, with successful exploitation limited to PHP versions 7.4 and earlier.

Is CVE-2024-9047 being actively exploited?

No, CVE-2024-9047 is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog and no public exploits are available, though the critical CVSS score warrants immediate patching.

What versions of PHP are affected by CVE-2024-9047?

PHP 7.4 and earlier versions are affected; PHP 7.5 and later (PHP 8.x) are not vulnerable due to changes in how path traversal is handled.

How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2024-9047?

Run `php -v` to check your PHP version (vulnerable if 7.4 or lower) and `grep Version /path/to/wp-content/plugins/wp-file-upload/wp-file-upload.php` to verify the plugin version is 4.24.11 or earlier.

Does Defensia detect CVE-2024-9047?

Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If PHP and WordPress File Upload plugin are present on a monitored server, CVE-2024-9047 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.

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References

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