CVE-2024-13557
📋 TL;DR
The Shortcodes by United Themes WordPress plugin allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary shortcodes due to improper input validation. This affects all versions up to and including 5.1.6, potentially impacting any WordPress site using this plugin.
💻 Affected Systems
- Shortcodes by United Themes 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, deface websites, steal sensitive data, or achieve remote code execution depending on available shortcodes.
Likely Case
Attackers will exploit vulnerable shortcodes to inject malicious content, redirect users, or perform cross-site scripting attacks.
If Mitigated
With proper input validation and shortcode sanitization, the impact would be limited to non-malicious shortcode execution only.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires sending crafted requests to vulnerable endpoints without authentication.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 5.1.7 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://unitedthemes.com/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Shortcodes by United Themes'. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available, or download latest version from WordPress repository. 5. Activate updated plugin.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable vulnerable plugin
allTemporarily deactivate the Shortcodes by United Themes plugin until patched
Restrict access to WordPress
allImplement IP whitelisting or authentication requirements for WordPress admin areas
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable the Shortcodes by United Themes plugin immediately
- Implement web application firewall rules to block suspicious shortcode execution attempts
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel > Plugins > Installed Plugins for 'Shortcodes by United Themes' version 5.1.6 or earlierCheck Version:
wp plugin list --name='Shortcodes by United Themes' --field=version (if WP-CLI installed)Verify Fix Applied:
Verify plugin version is 5.1.7 or later in WordPress admin panel📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to WordPress endpoints containing shortcode parameters
- Multiple failed shortcode execution attempts
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests with suspicious shortcode payloads to WordPress sites
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND (shortcode OR do_shortcode) AND status=200