CVE-2024-52396 Overview
CVE-2024-52396 is a path traversal vulnerability in the RealMag777 WOLF plugin, a WordPress posts bulk editor and products manager. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 1.0.8.3. An authenticated attacker with low privileges can traverse outside the intended directory through CSV-related functionality, resulting in unauthorized file access, modification, or deletion.
The vulnerability is tracked under CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory). It carries network-based exploitability and can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the underlying WordPress installation.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can read, write, or delete arbitrary files on the WordPress server, potentially enabling full site compromise.
Affected Products
- Pluginus WOLF - WordPress Posts Bulk Editor and Products Manager Professional (versions up to and including 1.0.8.3)
- WordPress installations running the vulnerable bulk-editor plugin
- Any site exposing the plugin's CSV import/export endpoints to authenticated users
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-11-14 - CVE-2024-52396 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-52396
Vulnerability Analysis
The WOLF plugin exposes CSV import and export functionality that constructs filesystem paths from user-supplied input. The plugin fails to normalize or validate path segments before passing them to file operations. As a result, an attacker can inject directory traversal sequences such as ../ to reference files outside the plugin's intended working directory.
Because the affected endpoint requires only low-privilege authentication, any authenticated WordPress user with access to the plugin's editor interface can trigger the flaw. Successful exploitation impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability, since file contents can be read, overwritten, or removed.
The issue is classified as a CSV-limited path traversal, indicating the traversal is bounded to CSV file operations but still yields significant impact on WordPress configuration files, uploads, and plugin assets.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing input sanitization on filename or path parameters used by the plugin's CSV handling routines. The plugin does not enforce a canonical base directory, does not reject .. sequences, and does not validate that the resolved path stays within an allowed directory.
Attack Vector
An authenticated attacker sends a crafted request to the plugin's CSV endpoint. The request includes a path parameter with traversal sequences that resolve to sensitive files such as wp-config.php or files in the WordPress uploads directory. The vulnerability described in the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Report confirms the CSV-bound nature of the traversal.
No public proof-of-concept exploit is currently listed for CVE-2024-52396. The EPSS score is 0.608%.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-52396
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP requests to WOLF plugin CSV endpoints containing ../ or URL-encoded traversal sequences such as %2e%2e%2f
- Unexpected reads or writes to files outside wp-content/plugins/bulk-editor/
- CSV import or export operations targeting filenames referencing wp-config.php, .htaccess, or system paths
- Access log entries showing bulk-editor requests from low-privileged accounts followed by anomalous file activity
Detection Strategies
- Inspect WordPress access logs for requests to admin-ajax.php or plugin routes containing the bulk-editor action combined with traversal patterns
- Correlate authenticated user sessions with filesystem modification events outside the plugin's directory
- Deploy web application firewall rules that block traversal sequences in POST parameters targeting the WOLF plugin
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor integrity of critical WordPress files, including wp-config.php and files under wp-content/uploads/
- Alert on any CSV file operations that resolve to paths outside the plugin's expected working directory
- Track privilege usage patterns for low-privileged WordPress accounts interacting with the bulk-editor plugin
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-52396
Immediate Actions Required
- Disable or remove the WOLF plugin on any WordPress site running version 1.0.8.3 or earlier until a patched release is confirmed
- Restrict access to the WordPress admin interface using IP allow-lists or additional authentication factors
- Audit WordPress user accounts and revoke unnecessary editor or contributor privileges
- Review recent CSV import and export activity for evidence of traversal attempts
Patch Information
The Patchstack advisory documents the vulnerability through version 1.0.8.3. Administrators should consult the vendor for a fixed release and upgrade immediately when available. No vendor advisory URL is currently listed in NVD.
Workarounds
- Block requests containing ../ or encoded traversal sequences at the web application firewall layer
- Apply filesystem permissions that prevent the PHP process from writing to directories outside wp-content/uploads/
- Enable file integrity monitoring on the WordPress installation to detect unauthorized modifications
- Temporarily deactivate the plugin if patching is not immediately feasible
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
