CVE-2024-11270
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in the WordPress WebinarPress plugin allows authenticated attackers with subscriber-level access or higher to create arbitrary files on the server, potentially leading to remote code execution. It affects all versions up to and including 1.33.24, putting WordPress sites using this plugin at risk.
💻 Affected Systems
- WordPress Webinar Plugin – WebinarPress
📦 What is this software?
Webinarpress by Webinarpress
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers achieve remote code execution, compromising the entire WordPress site and potentially the underlying server, leading to data theft, malware deployment, or further network infiltration.
Likely Case
Attackers upload malicious files like web shells to gain persistent access, deface the site, or steal sensitive data from the WordPress installation.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls and monitoring, exploitation is detected early, limiting impact to isolated file creation or failed attempts without full system compromise.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access (subscriber or higher), but the vulnerability is straightforward to trigger once authenticated.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Version after 1.33.24 (check plugin updates for exact version)
Vendor Advisory: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3216237/wp-webinarsystem/trunk/includes/class-webinarsysteem-ajax.php
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'WebinarPress' and click 'Update Now' if available. 4. Alternatively, download the latest version from WordPress.org and manually update.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable the vulnerable plugin
allTemporarily deactivate the WebinarPress plugin to prevent exploitation until patched.
wp plugin deactivate wp-webinarsystem
Restrict user roles
allLimit subscriber-level access or review user permissions to reduce attack surface.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block requests to the vulnerable 'sync-import-imgs' function.
- Monitor file creation activities in the WordPress uploads directory for suspicious files and audit user accounts regularly.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check the plugin version in WordPress admin under Plugins > Installed Plugins; if version is 1.33.24 or lower, it is vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get wp-webinarsystem --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
After updating, confirm the plugin version is above 1.33.24 and test that the 'sync-import-imgs' function no longer allows arbitrary file uploads.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to '/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php' with action 'sync-import-imgs' from subscriber-level users
- Unexpected file creations in WordPress uploads directory (e.g., .php files)
Network Indicators:
- HTTP traffic patterns showing repeated AJAX calls to the vulnerable endpoint from authenticated sessions
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress_logs" AND (url_path="/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php" AND action="sync-import-imgs")