CVE-2024-1533
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows authenticated WordPress users with contributor-level access or higher to inject malicious JavaScript into website pages via the Phlox theme's Shortcodes plugin. The injected scripts execute whenever visitors view the compromised pages, enabling session hijacking, defacement, or malware distribution. Sites using WordPress with Elementor and the Phlox theme's Auxin Elements plugin are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- WordPress with Phlox theme Auxin Elements plugin
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers could steal administrator credentials, redirect users to malicious sites, install backdoors, or completely compromise the WordPress site and potentially the server.
Likely Case
Attackers with contributor access inject malicious scripts to steal user session cookies, display unwanted content, or redirect visitors to phishing pages.
If Mitigated
With proper user role management and content review processes, the impact is limited to potential defacement of individual pages.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access but is technically simple once an attacker has contributor privileges.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 2.15.6 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://wordpress.org/plugins/auxin-elements/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Auxin Elements for Phlox Theme'. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available, or download latest version from WordPress repository. 5. Activate updated plugin.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Remove Contributor Access
allTemporarily remove contributor-level access for untrusted users until patching is complete.
Disable Plugin
allDeactivate the Auxin Elements plugin if functionality is not critical.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict user role management and review all contributor content before publishing
- Install a WordPress security plugin with XSS protection like Wordfence or Sucuri
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin → Plugins → Auxin Elements for Phlox Theme → Version. If version is 2.15.5 or lower, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin list --name='auxin-elements' --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
After updating, verify plugin version shows 2.15.6 or higher in WordPress admin panel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual HTML/JavaScript in post/page content from contributor users
- Multiple page edits by same user in short timeframe
Network Indicators:
- External JavaScript loading from unexpected domains in page responses
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress" AND (event="post_modified" OR event="plugin_updated") AND plugin_name="auxin-elements"🔗 References
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/auxin-elements/
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/8bcd2c5e-4969-4530-b3ab-930c5051d8f1?source=cve
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/auxin-elements/
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/8bcd2c5e-4969-4530-b3ab-930c5051d8f1?source=cve
