CVE-2024-9846
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary WordPress shortcodes through the Enable Shortcodes plugin. Attackers can potentially run malicious code, inject content, or exploit other plugins via shortcode execution. All WordPress sites using this plugin version 1.0.0 or earlier are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- WordPress Enable Shortcodes inside Widgets,Comments and Experts plugin
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote code execution leading to complete site compromise, data theft, or malware injection if vulnerable shortcodes exist in other plugins/themes.
Likely Case
Content injection, privilege escalation through other vulnerable shortcodes, or site defacement.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if no dangerous shortcodes exist and proper input validation is enforced elsewhere.
🎯 Exploit Status
Simple HTTP request with crafted shortcode parameter can trigger the vulnerability.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.0.1
Vendor Advisory: https://wordpress.org/plugins/enable-shortcodes-inside-widgetscomments-and-experts/#developers
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Enable Shortcodes inside Widgets,Comments and Experts'. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available, or delete and reinstall latest version. 5. Verify plugin version is 1.0.1 or higher.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Plugin
allTemporarily disable the vulnerable plugin until patched.
wp plugin deactivate enable-shortcodes-inside-widgetscomments-and-experts
Remove Plugin Files
linuxCompletely remove the plugin files from the server.
rm -rf /path/to/wp-content/plugins/enable-shortcodes-inside-widgetscomments-and-experts/
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block requests containing suspicious shortcode patterns.
- Restrict access to affected WordPress endpoints using IP whitelisting or authentication requirements.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin → Plugins → Installed Plugins for 'Enable Shortcodes inside Widgets,Comments and Experts' version 1.0.0 or lower.Check Version:
wp plugin get enable-shortcodes-inside-widgetscomments-and-experts --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm plugin version is 1.0.1 or higher in WordPress admin panel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to WordPress endpoints with shortcode parameters
- Multiple failed shortcode execution attempts in WordPress debug logs
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests containing [shortcode] patterns to WordPress admin-ajax.php or similar endpoints
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND "do_shortcode" AND ("unauthenticated" OR "malicious")🔗 References
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/enable-shortcodes-inside-widgetscomments-and-experts/trunk/enable-shortcodes-inside-widgets-comments-experts.php#L19
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/enable-shortcodes-inside-widgetscomments-and-experts/#developers
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/f1ac2544-f96b-4859-96de-795753a94264?source=cve
