CVE-2024-7426: PeepSo WordPress Plugin Path Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2024-7426 Overview

CVE-2024-7426 affects the Community by PeepSo plugin for WordPress, a social network, membership, and user profiles solution. The vulnerability is a Full Path Disclosure [CWE-200, CWE-209] flaw present in all versions up to and including 6.4.6.0. The plugin displays PHP errors and permits direct access to the sse.php file, which returns the absolute filesystem path of the web application. Unauthenticated attackers can retrieve this information over the network without user interaction. The disclosed path is not directly exploitable but can enable follow-on attacks such as Local File Inclusion (LFI) or targeted payload delivery when chained with another vulnerability.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can retrieve the absolute filesystem path of WordPress installations running vulnerable PeepSo plugin versions, aiding reconnaissance for chained exploits.

Affected Products

PeepSo Community Plugin for WordPress versions up to and including 6.4.6.0
WordPress installations exposing the plugin's sse.php endpoint
Sites running PeepSo with PHP error display enabled

Discovery Timeline

2024-09-25 - CVE-2024-7426 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-7426

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is an Information Disclosure flaw categorized under [CWE-200] (Exposure of Sensitive Information) and [CWE-209] (Generation of Error Message Containing Sensitive Information). When an unauthenticated visitor accesses the plugin's sse.php script directly, the PHP runtime emits error output that includes the full server-side path of the web application. This absolute path reveals directory structure details such as the WordPress installation root, hosting account username, and operating system layout.

An attacker gains reconnaissance data without needing credentials or user interaction. While the exposure alone does not compromise integrity or availability, it eliminates guesswork for adversaries preparing exploitation of secondary vulnerabilities. Path knowledge is commonly required for LFI attacks, log poisoning, and precisely targeted file inclusion payloads.

Root Cause

The root cause is twofold. First, the sse.php script is directly accessible without an entry-point guard that would normally block execution outside the WordPress bootstrap. Second, PHP error display is not suppressed for this endpoint, allowing runtime warnings and notices to surface file paths in the HTTP response body. Well-hardened WordPress plugins define a constant check (for example, if (!defined('ABSPATH')) exit;) at the top of every PHP file to prevent standalone execution.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires only an HTTP GET request to the plugin's sse.php file at a predictable path under wp-content/plugins/peepso-core/. No authentication, session, or user interaction is needed. The server responds with an error page or fragment containing the absolute filesystem path. Attackers typically automate this reconnaissance across large numbers of WordPress sites using scanners that fingerprint plugin installations.

No verified public exploit code is available for CVE-2024-7426. The Wordfence Vulnerability Analysis and the WordPress Plugin Source Code for the fixed release provide the authoritative technical detail.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-7426

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to /wp-content/plugins/peepso-core/sse.php from unauthenticated sources
Server responses containing filesystem path substrings such as /home/, /var/www/, or C:\inetpub\
Repeated scanner-style requests targeting PeepSo endpoints from a single source IP
Access log entries showing direct .php file access outside the normal WordPress request flow

Detection Strategies

Inspect web server access logs for direct GET requests to sse.php under the PeepSo plugin directory
Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that identify and log requests to plugin PHP files not routed through index.php
Use vulnerability scanners such as Wordfence or WPScan to identify vulnerable PeepSo versions in inventory
Correlate reconnaissance requests to sse.php with subsequent LFI, RFI, or upload attempts from the same source

Monitoring Recommendations

Alert on outbound HTTP responses containing absolute filesystem paths in error text
Track PeepSo plugin version across all managed WordPress sites and flag installations at or below 6.4.6.0
Baseline expected traffic patterns to plugin directories and alert on anomalous direct-file access

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-7426

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade the Community by PeepSo plugin to version 6.4.6.1 or later on all WordPress sites
Disable PHP error display in production by setting display_errors = Off in php.ini
Restrict direct access to plugin PHP files through web server configuration where the plugin's design allows
Audit access logs for prior requests to sse.php and document any reconnaissance attempts

Patch Information

PeepSo addressed the vulnerability in version 6.4.6.1. The corrected source is available at the WordPress Plugin Source Code. Site administrators should apply the update through the WordPress plugin dashboard or enable automatic updates for the plugin.

Workarounds

Set display_errors = Off and log_errors = On at the PHP configuration level to suppress path leakage in HTTP responses
Add a web server rule that denies direct HTTP access to sse.php until the plugin can be updated
Deploy a WAF rule that blocks responses containing absolute filesystem path patterns
Remove or deactivate the PeepSo plugin on sites where the community feature set is not required

bash

# Example Apache configuration to block direct access to sse.php
<Files "sse.php">
    Require all denied
</Files>

# Example PHP hardening in php.ini
display_errors = Off
log_errors = On
error_log = /var/log/php_errors.log