CVE-2024-13453
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary WordPress shortcodes through the PirateForms contact form plugin. Attackers can potentially inject malicious code that runs with WordPress privileges. All WordPress sites using PirateForms version 2.6.0 or earlier are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- PirateForms - Contact Form & SMTP Plugin for WordPress
⚠️ 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, or malware distribution via the WordPress instance.
Likely Case
Content injection, defacement, or privilege escalation through shortcode execution.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if proper input validation and output escaping are implemented elsewhere.
🎯 Exploit Status
Attack requires no authentication and shortcode execution is straightforward once the vulnerability is understood.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Versions after 2.6.0
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find PirateForms and click 'Update Now'. 4. Verify version is higher than 2.6.0.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable PirateForms Plugin
allTemporarily disable the vulnerable plugin until patching is possible.
wp plugin deactivate pirate-forms
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement web application firewall rules to block suspicious shortcode patterns in POST requests.
- Restrict access to contact form endpoints using IP whitelisting if feasible.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin → Plugins → Installed Plugins for PirateForms version 2.6.0 or lower.Check Version:
wp plugin get pirate-forms --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm PirateForms version is higher than 2.6.0 in WordPress admin plugins list.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to contact form endpoints containing shortcode patterns
- WordPress debug logs showing do_shortcode() errors
Network Indicators:
- HTTP POST requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with 'action' parameter containing shortcode payloads
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND "do_shortcode" AND "pirate-forms"🔗 References
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/pirate-forms/tags/2.6.0/gutenberg/class-pirateforms-gutenberg.php#L145
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=&sfph_mail=&reponame=&new=3225666%40pirate-forms&old=3219203%40pirate-forms&sfp_email=&sfph_mail=#file163
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/98859214-7acf-4d40-9291-b5669b9614b7?source=cve
