CVE-2024-13345
📋 TL;DR
The Avada Builder WordPress plugin allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary shortcodes due to improper input validation. This vulnerability affects all WordPress sites using Avada Builder versions up to 3.11.13, potentially enabling attackers to run malicious code through WordPress shortcode functionality.
💻 Affected Systems
- Avada Builder WordPress Plugin
📦 What is this software?
Avada Builder by Theme Fusion
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers could execute arbitrary PHP code, leading to complete site compromise, data theft, or server takeover if vulnerable shortcodes exist.
Likely Case
Attackers can execute existing WordPress shortcodes to create/delete content, modify settings, or access sensitive information depending on available shortcodes.
If Mitigated
With proper input validation and shortcode restrictions, impact is limited to non-critical shortcode execution.
🎯 Exploit Status
Attack requires no authentication and leverages WordPress's built-in do_shortcode function.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Version 3.11.14 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://avada.com/documentation/avada-changelog/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find Avada Builder. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available. 5. Alternatively, download latest version from WordPress repository and manually update.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Avada Builder Plugin
allTemporarily disable the vulnerable plugin until patched.
wp plugin deactivate avada-builder
Restrict Shortcode Execution
allAdd input validation filters to prevent arbitrary shortcode execution.
Add to theme's functions.php: add_filter('pre_do_shortcode_tag', 'validate_shortcode_input', 10, 3);
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block suspicious shortcode patterns.
- Restrict access to affected WordPress sites using IP whitelisting or authentication requirements.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel > Plugins > Avada Builder version. If version is 3.11.13 or lower, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get avada-builder --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify Avada Builder version is 3.11.14 or higher in WordPress admin panel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual shortcode execution patterns in WordPress debug logs
- Multiple failed shortcode execution attempts from single IP
Network Indicators:
- HTTP POST requests containing unusual shortcode parameters to WordPress endpoints
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND "do_shortcode" AND ("avada" OR "fusion")