CVE-2024-5254
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows authenticated WordPress users with contributor-level access or higher to inject malicious scripts into web pages using the Ultimate Addons for WPBakery plugin. The scripts execute whenever users visit the compromised pages, enabling cross-site scripting attacks. All WordPress sites using vulnerable versions of this plugin are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Ultimate Addons for WPBakery WordPress Plugin
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers could steal administrator credentials, redirect users to malicious sites, deface websites, or install backdoors for persistent access.
Likely Case
Attackers inject malicious scripts to steal user session cookies, redirect visitors to phishing pages, or display unwanted content.
If Mitigated
With proper user role management and input validation, impact is limited to low-privileged user account compromise.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access but is straightforward once attacker has contributor-level credentials.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 3.19.21 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://ultimate.brainstormforce.com/changelog/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Ultimate Addons for WPBakery'. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available. 5. Alternatively, download latest version from WordPress repository and upload manually.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Remove Contributor Role Access
allTemporarily restrict contributor-level users from creating or editing posts until patch is applied.
Use WordPress role management plugins or custom code to modify capabilities
Disable Ultimate Info Banner Shortcode
allRemove or disable the vulnerable shortcode functionality.
Add remove_shortcode('ultimate_info_banner'); to theme functions.php
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict input validation and output escaping for all user-supplied data in custom code
- Use web application firewall (WAF) rules to block XSS payloads targeting the ultimate_info_banner shortcode
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin → Plugins → Ultimate Addons for WPBakery → Version number. If version is 3.19.20 or lower, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin list --name='Ultimate Addons for WPBakery' --field=version (WP-CLI)Verify Fix Applied:
Confirm plugin version is 3.19.21 or higher in WordPress admin panel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual post/page edits by contributor-level users
- HTTP requests containing 'ultimate_info_banner' with script tags
Network Indicators:
- Outbound connections to suspicious domains from WordPress pages
- Unexpected JavaScript execution in page responses
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("ultimate_info_banner" AND ("script" OR "javascript" OR "onload"))🔗 References
- https://ultimate.brainstormforce.com/changelog/?utm_source=codecanyon-item-page&utm_campaign=uavc-changelog&utm_medium=changelog
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/4c8971e0-befd-47ac-8cb5-064f9cd757d7?source=cve
- https://ultimate.brainstormforce.com/changelog/?utm_source=codecanyon-item-page&utm_campaign=uavc-changelog&utm_medium=changelog
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/4c8971e0-befd-47ac-8cb5-064f9cd757d7?source=cve
