CVE-2024-11976
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in the BuddyPress WordPress plugin allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary shortcodes. This affects all WordPress sites running BuddyPress versions up to and including 14.3.3. Attackers can potentially execute malicious code through WordPress shortcode functionality.
💻 Affected Systems
- BuddyPress WordPress Plugin
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote code execution leading to complete site compromise, data theft, malware injection, or site defacement.
Likely Case
Unauthenticated attackers execute malicious shortcodes to inject content, redirect users, or perform limited administrative actions.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if shortcode execution is restricted through security plugins or custom filters.
🎯 Exploit Status
The vulnerability is straightforward to exploit as it requires no authentication and shortcode execution is a well-understood WordPress feature.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 14.3.4 and later
Vendor Advisory: https://wordpress.org/plugins/buddypress/#developers
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find BuddyPress and click 'Update Now'. 4. Verify update to version 14.3.4 or higher.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable BuddyPress Plugin
allTemporarily disable the BuddyPress plugin until patched.
wp plugin deactivate buddypress
Restrict Shortcode Execution
allUse security plugins to restrict or monitor shortcode execution.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block suspicious shortcode patterns
- Disable BuddyPress messaging functionality if not required
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel → Plugins → Installed Plugins → BuddyPress version. If version is 14.3.3 or lower, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get buddypress --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
After updating, verify BuddyPress version is 14.3.4 or higher in WordPress admin panel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual shortcode execution patterns in WordPress debug logs
- Multiple failed or suspicious AJAX requests to BuddyPress endpoints
Network Indicators:
- HTTP POST requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with suspicious shortcode parameters
- Unusual traffic to BuddyPress messaging endpoints
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress" AND (uri_path="/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php" AND http_method="POST" AND (form_data CONTAINS "do_shortcode" OR form_data CONTAINS "[shortcode"))🔗 References
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/buddypress/tags/14.3.1/bp-templates/bp-nouveau/includes/messages/ajax.php#L232
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=&sfph_mail=&reponame=&new=3259392%40buddypress%2Ftrunk&old=3199645%40buddypress%2Ftrunk&sfp_email=&sfph_mail=
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/34c627c1-7838-468e-acb7-eb84ad1b4949?source=cve
