CVE-2023-25828
📋 TL;DR
Pluck CMS has an authenticated remote code execution vulnerability in its albums module. Attackers with administrator credentials can upload malicious JPEG files containing embedded PHP code, leading to complete server compromise. Only Pluck CMS installations with the albums module enabled are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Pluck CMS
📦 What is this software?
Pluck by Pluck Cms
Pluck by Pluck Cms
Pluck by Pluck Cms
Pluck by Pluck Cms
Pluck by Pluck Cms
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Full server compromise allowing data theft, malware deployment, lateral movement, and complete system control.
Likely Case
Web server compromise leading to website defacement, data exfiltration, and backdoor installation.
If Mitigated
Limited impact due to strong access controls, file upload restrictions, and proper segmentation.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires administrator credentials but is straightforward once authenticated.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 4.7.18
Vendor Advisory: https://github.com/pluck-cms/pluck/releases/tag/4.7.18
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Backup your Pluck CMS installation and database. 2. Download Pluck CMS 4.7.18 or later. 3. Replace all files with the new version. 4. Clear browser cache and verify functionality.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable albums module
allTemporarily disable the vulnerable albums module to prevent exploitation.
Remove or rename the 'albums' directory in your Pluck CMS installation
Restrict file uploads
linuxConfigure web server to block execution of uploaded files in albums directory.
Add 'php_flag engine off' to .htaccess in albums upload directory
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict access controls and multi-factor authentication for administrator accounts
- Deploy web application firewall with file upload protection rules
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Pluck CMS version in admin panel or by examining version.php file.Check Version:
cat /path/to/pluck/version.php | grep 'pluck_version'Verify Fix Applied:
Verify version is 4.7.18 or later and test file upload functionality with malicious files.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual file uploads to albums directory
- Administrator account logins from unexpected locations
- Execution of PHP files from upload directories
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests to unusual PHP files in upload directories
- Outbound connections from web server to suspicious IPs
SIEM Query:
source="web_logs" AND (uri="/data/albums/*.php" OR uri="/data/albums/*.jpeg" AND method="POST")