CVE-2024-56249: WPMasterToolKit RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-56249 Overview

CVE-2024-56249 is an arbitrary file upload vulnerability in the WPMasterToolKit WordPress plugin developed by Ludwig You. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 1.13.1. Attackers with high-level authenticated access can upload files of dangerous types, including web shells, to the underlying web server. Successful exploitation leads to remote code execution, full site compromise, and lateral movement opportunities within the hosting environment. The weakness is classified under CWE-434: Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type. The EPSS data indicates a high probability of exploitation activity relative to other published CVEs.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers can upload web shells to the server, achieving arbitrary code execution and complete compromise of the affected WordPress installation.

Affected Products

• Ludwig You WPMasterToolKit WordPress plugin
• All versions from n/a through 1.13.1
• WordPress sites with the vulnerable plugin installed and active

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-01-02 - CVE-2024-56249 published to NVD
• 2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-56249

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in a file upload handler exposed by the WPMasterToolKit plugin. The handler fails to enforce restrictions on the type, extension, or MIME content of uploaded files. An authenticated attacker with elevated privileges can submit a PHP file or other executable script disguised as a legitimate asset.

Once uploaded, the file is written into a web-accessible directory within the WordPress installation. The attacker then requests the file directly, causing the web server to execute the embedded payload. This results in arbitrary command execution under the privileges of the web server user.

The scope-changed nature of this issue means impact extends beyond the plugin context, affecting the entire WordPress host and any co-located workloads. Refer to the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Report for additional technical context.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient validation of uploaded file attributes. The plugin does not enforce an allowlist of permitted extensions, does not verify MIME types against file contents, and does not restrict the upload destination to a non-executable directory. These omissions allow scripts to be written into directories where the PHP interpreter executes them.

Attack Vector

The attack is delivered over the network against an authenticated session with high privileges. An attacker first obtains valid credentials, then issues a crafted multipart POST request to the vulnerable upload endpoint. The request contains a web shell payload with a .php extension or a polyglot file that bypasses naive extension checks. After upload, the attacker invokes the file via a standard HTTP GET request to trigger execution.

No verified public proof-of-concept code is referenced in the advisory. See the Patchstack advisory for vendor-curated technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-56249

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected .php, .phtml, or .phar files inside wp-content/uploads/ or plugin-managed upload directories
• HTTP POST requests to WPMasterToolKit upload endpoints followed shortly by GET requests to newly created files
• Outbound network connections originating from the PHP worker process to unfamiliar IP addresses
• WordPress administrator or editor accounts performing upload activity outside normal patterns

Detection Strategies

• Monitor file system creation events in WordPress upload paths for executable extensions
• Correlate web server access logs to identify upload requests followed by direct execution of the uploaded file
• Inspect uploaded file contents for PHP tags, eval(), system(), base64_decode(), or known web shell signatures
• Review WordPress audit logs for plugin file upload activity from high-privilege accounts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Alert on writes of scripts to web-accessible directories on hosts running WordPress
• Track process lineage where the PHP-FPM or Apache worker spawns shell utilities such as sh, bash, wget, or curl
• Enable file integrity monitoring across the WordPress document root and plugin directories
• Forward web server, WordPress, and host telemetry to a centralized SIEM for correlated analysis

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-56249

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the WPMasterToolKit plugin to a version later than 1.13.1 as soon as a patched release is available
• Disable or remove the WPMasterToolKit plugin if a fixed version is not yet published
• Audit administrator and editor accounts and rotate credentials for any high-privilege users
• Scan the WordPress filesystem for unauthorized PHP files and remove any web shells discovered

Patch Information

The vendor advisory is tracked through Patchstack. Administrators should consult the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Report for the latest fixed-version guidance and apply updates through the WordPress plugin management interface.

Workarounds

• Restrict access to the WordPress admin interface using IP allowlists or VPN gating
• Configure the web server to prevent PHP execution within wp-content/uploads/ and other writable directories
• Enforce a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule that blocks uploads of PHP-executable file types
• Apply least-privilege principles by reducing the number of accounts with plugin-management capability

# Apache configuration example to block PHP execution in uploads
<Directory "/var/www/html/wp-content/uploads">
    <FilesMatch "\.(php|phtml|phar|php5|php7)$">
        Require all denied
    </FilesMatch>
    php_admin_flag engine off
</Directory>