CVE-2024-54374: Sogrid Path Traversal Vulnerability

CVE-2024-54374 Overview

CVE-2024-54374 is a path traversal vulnerability in the Sabri Sogrid WordPress plugin that enables PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI). The flaw exists in sogrid versions up to and including 1.5.6. Attackers can manipulate file path parameters to escape the intended directory and include arbitrary PHP files from the server filesystem. The weakness is classified under [CWE-22] Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory. Successful exploitation can lead to remote code execution, sensitive file disclosure, and full compromise of the WordPress instance.

Critical Impact
Network-based attackers can include arbitrary local PHP files through the vulnerable Sogrid plugin, potentially executing code and disclosing sensitive WordPress configuration data.

Affected Products

Sabri Sogrid plugin for WordPress
All versions from n/a through 1.5.6
WordPress sites with the Sogrid plugin enabled

Discovery Timeline

2024-12-16 - CVE-2024-54374 published to NVD
2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-54374

Vulnerability Analysis

The Sogrid plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input used to construct file paths. An attacker can submit traversal sequences such as ../ to break out of the plugin's expected directory and reference arbitrary files on the host. Because the resulting path is passed to a PHP file inclusion function, the included file is executed by the PHP interpreter rather than served as static content.

Exploitation requires user interaction, which typically means luring an authenticated user or administrator to a crafted link. The attack complexity is elevated because successful exploitation depends on specific server configuration and reachable file targets. When conditions align, the impact spans confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The EPSS score of 1.195% places this issue in the 63rd percentile for predicted exploitation activity, indicating moderate attacker interest relative to the broader CVE population.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient validation of a pathname parameter consumed by a PHP include or require statement. The plugin trusts request-supplied input without normalizing the path or restricting it to an allow-listed directory. As a result, sequences such as ../../../../etc/passwd or paths to writable upload directories containing attacker-controlled PHP can be resolved and executed.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability is exploitable over the network through HTTP requests to the vulnerable WordPress endpoint. The attacker crafts a URL containing traversal characters in the parameter handled by Sogrid. A targeted user must interact with the link for the request to be issued in their session context. If the server has accessible PHP files in predictable locations, such as uploaded media or log files containing PHP payloads, the attacker can convert file inclusion into code execution.

No verified public proof-of-concept code is referenced in the available advisory data. See the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for additional technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-54374

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP request parameters containing path traversal sequences such as ../, ..%2f, or encoded variants targeting Sogrid plugin endpoints under /wp-content/plugins/sogrid/.
Unexpected PHP file inclusion entries in web server logs referencing system files like /etc/passwd, wp-config.php, or files outside the plugin directory.
New or modified PHP files in wp-content/uploads/ that contain executable code.

Detection Strategies

Inspect web server access logs for requests to Sogrid endpoints containing directory traversal patterns or absolute file paths.
Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that flag traversal tokens and PHP wrapper schemes such as php://filter and php://input against the plugin's URLs.
Monitor for PHP errors referencing include(), require(), or file_get_contents() calls with unusual path arguments originating from the Sogrid plugin.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable file integrity monitoring on the WordPress root, wp-content/plugins/sogrid/, and wp-content/uploads/ directories.
Alert on outbound connections initiated by the PHP worker process immediately following requests to Sogrid endpoints.
Correlate authenticated session activity with traversal-pattern requests to identify successful social-engineering-driven exploitation.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-54374

Immediate Actions Required

Deactivate the Sogrid plugin until a patched release beyond 1.5.6 is confirmed installed.
Apply WAF virtual patching rules that block path traversal sequences against the plugin's request parameters.
Audit wp-content/uploads/ and other writable directories for unauthorized PHP files and remove any that are discovered.
Rotate WordPress secrets in wp-config.php if exploitation is suspected, as the file may have been disclosed.

Patch Information

At the time of NVD publication, the advisory indicates the issue affects Sogrid through version 1.5.6 with no fixed version listed in the available data. Administrators should consult the Patchstack Vulnerability Report and the plugin vendor for the latest fixed release before re-enabling the plugin.

Workarounds

Remove the Sogrid plugin entirely if a patched version is unavailable for the deployment.
Restrict PHP execution in writable directories such as wp-content/uploads/ using web server configuration to limit the impact of any file inclusion.
Configure open_basedir in PHP to constrain file access to the WordPress installation directory and block traversal to system paths.
Enforce least-privilege file permissions so that the web server user cannot read sensitive files such as /etc/shadow or arbitrary application configurations.

bash

# Configuration example: restrict PHP file scope and disable execution in uploads
# php.ini
open_basedir = "/var/www/html:/tmp"

# Apache .htaccess inside wp-content/uploads/
<FilesMatch "\.(php|phar|phtml)$">
    Require all denied
</FilesMatch>