CVE-2024-56213 Overview
CVE-2024-56213 is a path traversal vulnerability in the Arraytics Eventin plugin (wp-event-solution) for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions of Eventin up to and including 4.0.7. Authenticated attackers with contributor-level privileges can traverse directories using .../...// sequences to include arbitrary local files. The vulnerability maps to CWE-22 and CWE-35, covering improper limitation of pathnames and path traversal via relative directory sequences.
Critical Impact
Authenticated contributors can read sensitive files on the WordPress host, exposing configuration data, credentials in wp-config.php, and other server-side secrets that enable further compromise.
Affected Products
- Arraytics Eventin (wp-event-solution) WordPress plugin, versions up to and including 4.0.7
- WordPress sites running the Eventin event management plugin with contributor accounts enabled
- Deployments where untrusted users can register or hold contributor-level roles
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-12-31 - CVE-2024-56213 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-56213
Vulnerability Analysis
The Eventin plugin fails to sanitize user-supplied path parameters before using them in file inclusion operations. Attackers exploit this by supplying crafted traversal sequences such as .../...// that bypass naive filters stripping standard ../ patterns. The plugin resolves the manipulated path and reads or includes files outside the intended plugin directory.
Exploitation requires authentication at the contributor level, which lowers but does not eliminate the barrier to attack. Many WordPress deployments permit self-service registration or grant contributor access to guest authors. Once local file inclusion succeeds, attackers can read PHP source, database credentials, and server configuration files.
Root Cause
The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation on file path parameters. The plugin uses a denylist-style sanitizer that removes single instances of ../ but fails against nested sequences like .../...//. When the sanitizer collapses the inner tokens, the resulting string still contains valid traversal characters that the filesystem resolves normally.
Attack Vector
The attack is delivered over the network against an authenticated plugin endpoint. An attacker with a contributor account submits a request containing a manipulated path parameter targeting a sensitive file such as wp-config.php or /etc/passwd. The vulnerable handler reads the file and returns its contents or includes it in the executed request context. See the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for additional technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-56213
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP requests to Eventin plugin endpoints containing traversal patterns such as .../...//, ..%2f, or repeated ../ sequences in query or POST parameters
- Access log entries showing contributor accounts requesting file paths referencing wp-config.php, /etc/passwd, or other non-plugin resources
- Unexpected PHP include or require operations resolving outside the wp-content/plugins/wp-event-solution/ directory
Detection Strategies
- Inspect web server access logs for requests to Eventin plugin routes carrying URL-encoded or nested traversal tokens
- Correlate contributor-role authentication events with subsequent requests reading sensitive server paths
- Deploy web application firewall rules that decode and normalize path parameters before pattern matching
Monitoring Recommendations
- Alert on any file read outside the plugin directory tree originating from PHP-FPM or the WordPress process
- Monitor creation of new contributor accounts on sites running vulnerable Eventin versions
- Track outbound connections from the web host that follow suspicious file inclusion activity
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-56213
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the Arraytics Eventin plugin to a version later than 4.0.7 as soon as a fixed release is available from the vendor
- Audit existing contributor accounts and remove any that are unnecessary or inactive
- Disable open user registration and restrict contributor role assignment to trusted authors
Patch Information
The vulnerability affects Eventin versions through 4.0.7. Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for current patch status and upgrade guidance from Arraytics.
Workarounds
- Deactivate the Eventin plugin until a patched version is installed if contributor accounts cannot be restricted
- Apply web application firewall rules that block requests containing .../...//, ..%2f..%2f, or similar path traversal sequences targeting the plugin
- Enforce filesystem permissions and PHP open_basedir restrictions to prevent reading files outside the WordPress document root
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
