CVE-2024-49330
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to upload arbitrary files, including web shells, to WordPress servers running the Nice Backgrounds plugin. Attackers can achieve remote code execution and full server compromise. All WordPress sites using Nice Backgrounds version 1.0 or earlier are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- WordPress Nice Backgrounds Plugin
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete server takeover with persistent backdoor installation, data exfiltration, and lateral movement to other systems.
Likely Case
Web shell upload leading to website defacement, credential theft, and cryptocurrency mining malware deployment.
If Mitigated
File upload attempts blocked at web application firewall level with no successful exploitation.
🎯 Exploit Status
Simple HTTP POST request with malicious file upload to vulnerable endpoint.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: None available
Vendor Advisory: https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/nicebackgrounds/wordpress-nice-backgrounds-plugin-1-0-arbitrary-file-upload-vulnerability?_s_id=cve
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Immediately remove the Nice Backgrounds plugin from all WordPress installations. 2. Delete all plugin files from the wp-content/plugins/nicebackgrounds directory. 3. Search for and remove any suspicious files uploaded via this vulnerability.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Web Application Firewall Rule
allBlock file uploads to the vulnerable plugin endpoint
Block HTTP POST requests to /wp-content/plugins/nicebackgrounds/*
File System Permissions Restriction
linuxRemove write permissions from plugin upload directory
chmod -R 755 /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/nicebackgrounds/
chown -R root:root /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/nicebackgrounds/
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable or remove the Nice Backgrounds plugin immediately
- Implement strict file upload validation at the web server level
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if /wp-content/plugins/nicebackgrounds/ directory exists and contains version 1.0 filesCheck Version:
grep -r "Version:" /path/to/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/nicebackgrounds/*.phpVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm the nicebackgrounds directory has been completely removed from wp-content/plugins/📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- HTTP POST requests to /wp-content/plugins/nicebackgrounds/upload.php with file uploads
- Unusual file creations in plugin directories with .php, .phtml, or .jsp extensions
Network Indicators:
- Unusual outbound connections from web server to unknown IPs
- Large file uploads to plugin endpoints
SIEM Query:
source="web_server_logs" AND (uri_path="/wp-content/plugins/nicebackgrounds/*" AND http_method="POST" AND content_type="multipart/form-data")