CVE-2024-13471
Published: 05 March 2025
Summary
CVE-2024-13471 is a high-severity Path Traversal (CWE-22) vulnerability in Themeforest (inferred from references). Its CVSS base score is 7.5 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked in the top 23.2% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 AC-3 (Access Enforcement) and SI-10 (Information Input Validation).
Deeper analysis
CVE-2024-13471 affects the DesignThemes Core Features plugin for WordPress in all versions up to and including 4.7. The vulnerability stems from a missing capability check in the dt_process_imported_file function, enabling unauthorized access to data. This flaw, classified under CWE-22 (Path Traversal), allows attackers to read arbitrary files on the underlying operating system. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N), indicating high confidentiality impact with low complexity and no privileges required.
Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely over the network without user interaction. By invoking the vulnerable function, they gain the ability to retrieve sensitive files from the server, such as configuration files, credentials, or other arbitrary data accessible to the web server process.
Advisories reference the Wordfence threat intelligence page for detailed vulnerability analysis and the ThemeForest listing for the associated LMS Learning Management System WordPress theme, which relies on the DesignThemes Core Features plugin. No specific patch details beyond updating past version 4.7 are provided in the core description.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2024-54004
Vulnerability details
The DesignThemes Core Features plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized access of data due to a missing capability check on the dt_process_imported_file function in all versions up to, and including, 4.7. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to…
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read arbitrary files on the underlying operating system.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Path traversal in public-facing WordPress plugin enables remote unauthenticated file reads, directly mapping to exploitation of public-facing applications (T1190) and collection of data from local system files (T1005).
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Enforces approved authorizations for access to system resources, directly mitigating the missing capability check in the dt_process_imported_file function that allows unauthenticated arbitrary file reads.
Validates information inputs to prevent path traversal exploits like CWE-22, blocking unauthorized access to arbitrary files via manipulated inputs to the vulnerable function.
Applies least privilege to the web server process, limiting the scope of readable files even if the missing capability check is bypassed.