CVE-2024-50480
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows attackers to upload arbitrary files, including web shells, to WordPress servers running the vulnerable AZEXO Marketing Automation plugin. Attackers can achieve remote code execution and full server compromise. All WordPress sites using affected plugin versions are at risk.
💻 Affected Systems
- Marketing Automation by AZEXO 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
Complete server takeover with persistent backdoor installation, data theft, lateral movement to other systems, and ransomware deployment.
Likely Case
Web shell upload leading to website defacement, credential harvesting, and installation of cryptocurrency miners or malware.
If Mitigated
File upload attempts blocked or detected, with no successful exploitation due to proper file type validation and server hardening.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access to WordPress, but once obtained, file upload is straightforward. Public exploit details available on security research sites.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.27.81 or later
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Marketing Automation by AZEXO'. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available, or manually update to version 1.27.81+. 5. Verify update completes successfully.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Plugin
allTemporarily deactivate the vulnerable plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate marketing-automation-by-azexo
Restrict File Uploads
linuxBlock upload of executable file types via web server configuration
# In Apache .htaccess: <FilesMatch "\.(php|phtml|php3|php4|php5|php7|phps|php8|pl|py|jsp|asp|sh|cgi)">
Order Allow,Deny
Deny from all
</FilesMatch>
# In Nginx: location ~ \.(php|phtml|php3|php4|php5|php7|phps|php8|pl|py|jsp|asp|sh|cgi)$ {
deny all;
}
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Remove the plugin entirely from production systems
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block file uploads to vulnerable endpoints
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel > Plugins > Installed Plugins for 'Marketing Automation by AZEXO' version 1.27.80 or earlierCheck Version:
wp plugin get marketing-automation-by-azexo --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm plugin version is 1.27.81 or later in WordPress admin panel📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual file uploads to plugin directories
- POST requests to upload endpoints with PHP/executable files
- Web server errors related to file type validation
Network Indicators:
- HTTP POST requests to /wp-content/plugins/marketing-automation-by-azexo/ upload endpoints
- Unusual outbound connections from web server after file upload
SIEM Query:
source="web_server" AND (uri_path="*marketing-automation-by-azexo*" AND http_method="POST" AND (file_extension="php" OR file_extension="phtml" OR file_extension="jsp"))