CVE-2024-54270: Axeptio SDK PHP File Inclusion Vulnerability

CVE-2024-54270 Overview

CVE-2024-54270 is a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability in the Axeptio SDK Integration WordPress plugin. The flaw stems from improper control of filenames used in PHP include or require statements [CWE-98]. Affected versions include all releases up to and including 2.5.4. An unauthenticated network attacker can manipulate file path parameters to load arbitrary PHP files from the server's filesystem. Successful exploitation can lead to disclosure of sensitive configuration data, execution of attacker-controlled PHP, and full compromise of the WordPress site.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can include arbitrary local files via the Axeptio SDK Integration plugin, enabling code execution and exposure of sensitive WordPress credentials such as wp-config.php.

Affected Products

• Axeptio SDK Integration WordPress plugin versions up to and including 2.5.4
• WordPress sites running the vulnerable plugin
• Any hosting environment exposing the affected PHP include paths

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-12-18 - CVE-2024-54270 published to NVD
• 2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-54270

Vulnerability Analysis

The Axeptio SDK Integration plugin passes user-controllable input into a PHP include or require statement without adequate validation or path normalization. This pattern, classified under [CWE-98], allows an attacker to influence which file the PHP interpreter loads. Because WordPress executes plugin code in the context of the web application, any included file is parsed as PHP. The EPSS probability of 3.907% (88.5th percentile) reflects elevated exploitation interest relative to the broader CVE population.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient sanitization of a filename parameter before it reaches a PHP file inclusion function. The plugin does not constrain inputs to a fixed allow-list of templates or directories. Directory traversal sequences such as ../ and absolute paths are not stripped or rejected. As a result, attacker-supplied values are concatenated directly into the include path.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability is exploitable over the network without authentication. An attacker crafts an HTTP request to the vulnerable endpoint exposed by the plugin and supplies a manipulated file path parameter. By pointing the parameter at sensitive files such as wp-config.php, the attacker reads secrets including database credentials and authentication keys. When combined with an upload primitive or PHP wrappers like php://filter or data://, the same flaw can yield remote code execution. Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for additional technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-54270

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP requests to Axeptio SDK Integration plugin endpoints containing ../ traversal sequences or absolute filesystem paths
• Web server access logs showing requests referencing wp-config.php, /etc/passwd, or other sensitive files in query parameters
• Unexpected PHP error log entries referencing include() or require() failures for non-plugin files
• Outbound network connections from php-fpm or web worker processes to attacker-controlled hosts following suspicious requests

Detection Strategies

• Inspect WordPress access logs for requests targeting /wp-content/plugins/axeptio-sdk-integration/ with file-path parameters
• Apply web application firewall rules that flag traversal patterns and PHP stream wrappers (php://, data://, file://) in query strings
• Correlate plugin requests with subsequent file reads of wp-config.php or PHP process spawns of shells such as sh, bash, or python

Monitoring Recommendations

• Alert on any access to plugin pages from unauthenticated sessions outside expected geographic regions
• Monitor integrity of WordPress core and plugin directories for unexpected file writes
• Track PHP runtime errors mentioning failed to open stream against unusual paths

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-54270

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the Axeptio SDK Integration plugin to a version later than 2.5.4 as soon as the vendor publishes a fix
• If no patched version is available, deactivate and remove the plugin from all WordPress installations
• Rotate WordPress database credentials, authentication keys, and salts if exploitation is suspected
• Review web server and PHP logs for prior exploitation attempts referencing the plugin path

Patch Information

Consult the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for the latest vendor remediation status. All versions through 2.5.4 are affected; administrators should upgrade to the first vendor-released version that addresses [CWE-98] in the affected include logic.

Workarounds

• Block external access to the plugin directory using web server rules until a patched version is installed
• Deploy WAF signatures that reject requests containing ../, encoded traversal sequences, or PHP stream wrappers in parameter values
• Set the PHP directive open_basedir to restrict the filesystem paths accessible to the WordPress process
• Disable allow_url_include in php.ini to prevent escalation from LFI to remote file inclusion

# Configuration example: restrict PHP file inclusion scope
# /etc/php/8.2/fpm/conf.d/99-hardening.ini
open_basedir = "/var/www/html:/tmp"
allow_url_include = Off
allow_url_fopen = Off

# Nginx rule to block traversal patterns targeting the plugin
location ~* /wp-content/plugins/axeptio-sdk-integration/ {
    if ($args ~* "(\.\./|php://|data://|file://)") {
        return 403;
    }
}