CVE-2024-10263
📋 TL;DR
The Tickera WordPress plugin allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary shortcodes due to improper input validation. This vulnerability affects all WordPress sites running Tickera plugin versions up to 3.5.4.4, potentially enabling attackers to run malicious code on vulnerable websites.
💻 Affected Systems
- Tickera – WordPress Event Ticketing
📦 What is this software?
Tickera by Tickera
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete site takeover through remote code execution, data theft, malware injection, or defacement via malicious shortcode execution.
Likely Case
Unauthenticated attackers execute arbitrary shortcodes to inject malicious content, redirect users, or perform limited administrative actions depending on available shortcodes.
If Mitigated
Attackers can only execute benign shortcodes or the vulnerability is blocked by web application firewall rules.
🎯 Exploit Status
No public proof-of-concept available, but exploitation is straightforward for attackers familiar with WordPress shortcode injection.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 3.5.4.5
Vendor Advisory: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3179272/tickera-event-ticketing-system
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find Tickera plugin. 4. Click 'Update Now' if update available. 5. If no update appears, manually download version 3.5.4.5+ from WordPress.org and replace plugin files.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Tickera Plugin
allTemporarily deactivate the vulnerable plugin until patched.
wp plugin deactivate tickera
Web Application Firewall Rule
allBlock requests containing suspicious shortcode execution patterns.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable the Tickera plugin immediately
- Implement strict input validation and output escaping for all user inputs
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin → Plugins → Tickera version. If version is 3.5.4.4 or lower, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get tickera --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify Tickera plugin version is 3.5.4.5 or higher in WordPress admin panel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to WordPress endpoints with shortcode parameters
- Multiple failed shortcode execution attempts in WordPress debug logs
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests containing [shortcode] patterns in parameters
- Unusual traffic to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php or similar endpoints
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("do_shortcode" OR "[shortcode]" OR "tickera") AND status=200