CVE-2024-5335

Comprehensive Technical Analysis of CVE-2024-5335

1. Vulnerability Assessment and Severity Evaluation

CVE ID: CVE-2024-5335 CVSS Score: 9.8

Severity Evaluation: The CVSS score of 9.8 indicates a critical vulnerability. This high score is due to the potential for unauthenticated attackers to exploit the vulnerability, leading to severe impacts such as arbitrary file deletion, sensitive data retrieval, or code execution.

Vulnerability Type: The vulnerability is classified as PHP Object Injection via deserialization of untrusted input. This type of vulnerability occurs when an attacker can manipulate serialized data to inject malicious PHP objects, potentially leading to remote code execution (RCE) or other severe impacts.

2. Potential Attack Vectors and Exploitation Methods

Attack Vectors:

• Unauthenticated Attack: The vulnerability can be exploited by an unauthenticated attacker, making it highly dangerous.
• Cookie Manipulation: The attacker can manipulate the _ultimate_store_kit_compare_products cookie to inject a malicious PHP object.

Exploitation Methods:

• Deserialization: The attacker crafts a serialized PHP object and injects it into the vulnerable cookie.
• POP Chain: Although no POP (Property-Oriented Programming) chain is present in the vulnerable plugin itself, the presence of a POP chain in another installed plugin or theme could enable the attacker to achieve more severe impacts such as arbitrary file deletion, data retrieval, or code execution.

3. Affected Systems and Software Versions

Affected Plugin:

• Ultimate Store Kit Elementor Addons, Woocommerce Builder, EDD Builder, Elementor Store Builder, Product Grid, Product Table, Woocommerce Slider

Affected Versions:

• All versions up to and including 1.6.4

Platform:

• WordPress

4. Recommended Mitigation Strategies

Immediate Actions:

• Update: Immediately update the Ultimate Store Kit plugin to a version higher than 1.6.4.
• Disable: If an update is not possible, consider disabling the plugin until a patched version is available.

Long-Term Mitigation:

• Regular Audits: Conduct regular security audits of all installed plugins and themes.
• Least Privilege: Ensure that all plugins and themes are running with the least privilege necessary.
• Monitoring: Implement monitoring and logging to detect any suspicious activities related to cookie manipulation.

5. Impact on Cybersecurity Landscape

Broader Implications:

• Supply Chain Risk: This vulnerability highlights the risks associated with third-party plugins and themes, emphasizing the need for thorough vetting and regular updates.
• Ecosystem Vulnerability: The widespread use of WordPress and its plugins means that such vulnerabilities can have a significant impact on a large number of websites.
• Attacker Opportunity: Unauthenticated vulnerabilities provide attackers with a low-barrier entry point, increasing the likelihood of widespread exploitation.

6. Technical Details for Security Professionals

Vulnerable Code: The vulnerability is located in the helper.php file of the Ultimate Store Kit plugin, specifically around line 1103. The deserialization of untrusted input from the _ultimate_store_kit_compare_products cookie is the root cause.

Patch Details: The patch can be found in the changeset 3135472, which addresses the deserialization issue by ensuring that only trusted data is deserialized.

Detection and Response:

• Detection: Implement Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) to detect and block attempts to manipulate the _ultimate_store_kit_compare_products cookie.
• Response: In case of detection, immediately investigate the source of the attack and apply the necessary patches. Ensure that all affected systems are isolated and monitored for further suspicious activities.

References:

• Vulnerability Details
• Patch Information
• Third Party Advisory

Conclusion

CVE-2024-5335 represents a critical vulnerability in the Ultimate Store Kit plugin for WordPress. The potential for unauthenticated attackers to exploit this vulnerability underscores the need for immediate mitigation strategies, including updating the plugin and implementing robust security measures. The broader implications for the cybersecurity landscape highlight the importance of vigilant monitoring and regular updates for all third-party components in use.