CVE-2024-52408
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows attackers to upload arbitrary files, including web shells, to WordPress sites running the vulnerable PushAssist plugin. Attackers can gain full control of affected websites, potentially leading to data theft, defacement, or further network compromise. All WordPress sites using PushAssist Push Notifications plugin versions up to 3.0.8 are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Push Notifications for WordPress by PushAssist
⚠️ 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 compromise leading to data exfiltration, ransomware deployment, or use as pivot point for internal network attacks.
Likely Case
Website defacement, credential theft, malware distribution, or cryptocurrency mining bot installation.
If Mitigated
Limited to plugin directory access only, preventing full server compromise but still allowing website manipulation.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires no authentication and can be automated with simple scripts.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 3.0.9 or later
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Push Notifications for WordPress by PushAssist'. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available. 5. If no update appears, deactivate and delete the plugin immediately.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Plugin
allDeactivate the vulnerable plugin to prevent exploitation.
wp plugin deactivate push-notification-for-wp-by-pushassist
File Upload Restriction
allAdd web server rules to block uploads to the plugin directory.
# Apache: Add to .htaccess in wp-content/plugins/push-notification-for-wp-by-pushassist/
<FilesMatch "\.(php|phtml|php3|php4|php5|php7|phps|php8|inc|pl|py|jsp|asp|aspx|cgi|sh|bash)">
Order Allow,Deny
Deny from all
</FilesMatch>
# Nginx: Add to server block
location ~* ^/wp-content/plugins/push-notification-for-wp-by-pushassist/.*\.(php|phtml|php3|php4|php5|php7|phps|php8|inc|pl|py|jsp|asp|aspx|cgi|sh|bash)$ {
deny all;
}
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Immediately deactivate and remove the PushAssist plugin from all WordPress installations.
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block file uploads to the plugin directory.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel → Plugins → Installed Plugins for 'Push Notifications for WordPress by PushAssist' version 3.0.8 or earlier.Check Version:
wp plugin get push-notification-for-wp-by-pushassist --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify plugin version is 3.0.9 or later, or confirm plugin is not installed/active.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to /wp-content/plugins/push-notification-for-wp-by-pushassist/
- File uploads with .php, .phtml, or other executable extensions to plugin directory
- New files created in wp-content/plugins/push-notification-for-wp-by-pushassist/ with suspicious names
Network Indicators:
- HTTP POST requests to plugin upload endpoints from unexpected sources
- Outbound connections from WordPress server to unknown IPs after file upload
SIEM Query:
source="web_server_logs" AND (uri_path="/wp-content/plugins/push-notification-for-wp-by-pushassist/*" AND http_method="POST")