CVE-2024-12415
📋 TL;DR
The AI Infographic Maker WordPress plugin allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary shortcodes due to improper input validation. This vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 4.9.0, potentially impacting any WordPress site using this plugin.
💻 Affected Systems
- AI Infographic Maker 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
Attackers could execute malicious shortcodes to inject arbitrary code, potentially leading to remote code execution, data theft, or complete site compromise.
Likely Case
Attackers will exploit shortcode functionality to inject malicious content, redirect users, or perform privilege escalation attacks.
If Mitigated
With proper input validation and security controls, the impact is limited to shortcode execution within WordPress's sandboxed environment.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires minimal technical skill due to unauthenticated access and predictable attack vectors.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 4.9.1 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/infographic-and-list-builder-ilist
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel
2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins
3. Find 'AI Infographic Maker'
4. Click 'Update Now' if available
5. Alternatively, download latest version from WordPress repository and manually update
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable vulnerable plugin
allTemporarily deactivate the AI Infographic Maker plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate infographic-and-list-builder-ilist
Restrict access to vulnerable endpoint
linuxBlock access to the vulnerable PHP file via web server configuration
# Apache: <LocationMatch "qcld-embed-link\.php">
# Order deny,allow
# Deny from all
# </LocationMatch>
# Nginx: location ~* qcld-embed-link\.php { deny all; }
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block shortcode injection attempts
- Disable shortcode execution for unauthenticated users via WordPress filters
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel → Plugins → AI Infographic Maker version. If version is 4.9.0 or lower, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get infographic-and-list-builder-ilist --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify plugin version is 4.9.1 or higher in WordPress admin panel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to qcld-embed-link.php
- Shortcode execution attempts in WordPress debug logs
- Multiple 200 responses to the vulnerable endpoint
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests containing [shortcode] patterns to the vulnerable endpoint
- Unusual traffic spikes to the plugin directory
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND "qcld-embed-link.php" AND ("do_shortcode" OR "[" AND "]")🔗 References
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/infographic-and-list-builder-ilist/trunk/embed/qcld-embed-link.php#L46
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=&sfph_mail=&reponame=&old=3210519%40infographic-and-list-builder-ilist&new=3210519%40infographic-and-list-builder-ilist&sfp_email=&sfph_mail=#file1030
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=&sfph_mail=&reponame=&old=3227956%40infographic-and-list-builder-ilist&new=3227956%40infographic-and-list-builder-ilist&sfp_email=&sfph_mail=
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/0aa21fad-4dd0-4ccd-a325-de3532a6ffaf?source=cve
