CVE-2024-38770
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in the WordPress plugin 'Backup and Staging by WP Time Capsule' allows attackers to bypass authentication and escalate privileges, potentially gaining administrative access to WordPress sites. It affects all versions up to 1.22.20 of the plugin. WordPress administrators using this plugin are at risk.
💻 Affected Systems
- Backup and Staging by WP Time Capsule 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 gain full administrative control over WordPress sites, allowing them to install malware, steal sensitive data, deface websites, or use the site for further attacks.
Likely Case
Attackers compromise WordPress sites to install backdoors, cryptocurrency miners, or redirect traffic to malicious sites.
If Mitigated
With proper network segmentation and monitoring, impact is limited to the affected WordPress instance only.
🎯 Exploit Status
Authentication bypass vulnerabilities are often quickly weaponized due to their high impact and ease of exploitation.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.22.21 or later
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Backup and Staging by WP Time Capsule'. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available, or download version 1.22.21+ from WordPress repository. 5. Activate the updated plugin.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable vulnerable plugin
allTemporarily disable the plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate wp-time-capsule
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable the plugin immediately via WordPress admin or command line
- Implement web application firewall rules to block suspicious authentication attempts
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin → Plugins → Installed Plugins for 'Backup and Staging by WP Time Capsule' versionCheck Version:
wp plugin get wp-time-capsule --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify plugin version is 1.22.21 or higher in WordPress admin📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual authentication attempts to wp-admin
- Plugin activation/deactivation logs for wp-time-capsule
- Unexpected admin user creation
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests to wp-time-capsule endpoints without proper authentication
- Unusual traffic patterns to /wp-admin/
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress" AND (plugin="wp-time-capsule" OR uri="/wp-content/plugins/wp-time-capsule/")