CVE-2024-7573
📋 TL;DR
The Relevanssi Live Ajax Search WordPress plugin has an argument injection vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to manipulate search queries. This can expose sensitive content like private posts or attachments. All WordPress sites using this plugin up to version 2.4 are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Relevanssi Live Ajax Search 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 could extract sensitive private posts, draft content, or attachments that should not be publicly accessible, potentially exposing confidential information.
Likely Case
Information disclosure of non-public content that attackers can access through manipulated search queries.
If Mitigated
Limited exposure if proper access controls and input validation are already in place, but the vulnerability still exists at the plugin level.
🎯 Exploit Status
The vulnerability requires no authentication and manipulation of POST data is straightforward.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 2.4.1
Vendor Advisory: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3135074/relevanssi-live-ajax-search
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel
2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins
3. Find Relevanssi Live Ajax Search
4. Click 'Update Now' if available
5. Alternatively, download version 2.4.1+ from WordPress repository
6. Deactivate and delete old version, then upload new version
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable the plugin
allTemporarily deactivate the Relevanssi Live Ajax Search plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate relevanssi-live-ajax-search
Restrict access to search endpoint
linuxUse web application firewall or .htaccess to restrict POST requests to the vulnerable endpoint
# Add to .htaccess:
<Files "admin-ajax.php">
<IfModule mod_authz_core.c>
Require all denied
</IfModule>
<IfModule !mod_authz_core.c>
Order deny,allow
Deny from all
</IfModule>
</Files>
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement web application firewall rules to block suspicious POST requests to admin-ajax.php
- Monitor logs for unusual search query patterns and implement rate limiting on search endpoints
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel → Plugins → Relevanssi Live Ajax Search version. If version is 2.4 or lower, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get relevanssi-live-ajax-search --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify plugin version is 2.4.1 or higher in WordPress admin panel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with manipulated search parameters
- Multiple search requests with unusual query parameters from single IPs
Network Indicators:
- POST requests to admin-ajax.php endpoint with unusual parameter values
- Traffic spikes to search functionality
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND "admin-ajax.php" AND "action=relevanssi_live_search" AND ("post_type" OR "post_status" OR unusual parameter patterns)