CVE-2024-0668 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data) affecting the Advanced Database Cleaner WordPress plugin developed by symptote. This vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 3.1.3. The flaw arises from insecure deserialization in the 'process_bulk_action' function, which processes untrusted input without proper validation or sanitization. Specifically, an authenticated attacker with administrator or higher privileges can inject a crafted PHP object during deserialization, leading to PHP Object Injection. While the plugin itself does not contain a gadget or POP (Property Oriented Programming) chain to directly exploit this injection for code execution or file manipulation, the presence of other plugins or themes on the WordPress installation that provide such POP chains can enable an attacker to leverage this vulnerability to delete arbitrary files, retrieve sensitive data, or execute arbitrary code on the server. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.6, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is network-based (remote), requires high privileges (administrator), and does not require user interaction. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as exploitation could lead to data leakage, unauthorized file deletion, or remote code execution. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or updates are explicitly linked in the provided data, so mitigation may require manual updates or configuration changes. This vulnerability highlights the risk of insecure deserialization in WordPress plugins, especially when combined with other components that can facilitate exploitation.

For European organizations using WordPress sites with the Advanced Database Cleaner plugin, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, particularly for those with administrator-level users who might be targeted or compromised. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized data access, deletion of critical files, or full server compromise if combined with other vulnerable plugins or themes. This could result in data breaches involving personal data protected under GDPR, leading to regulatory fines and reputational damage. Additionally, compromised websites could be used as attack vectors for further intrusions or to distribute malware. The medium CVSS score reflects that exploitation requires high privileges, limiting the attack surface to insiders or compromised admin accounts, but the potential impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high. Organizations with public-facing WordPress sites, especially those handling sensitive customer or business data, are at risk. The absence of known exploits in the wild suggests a window of opportunity to remediate before widespread attacks occur.

1. Immediately update the Advanced Database Cleaner plugin to a version where this vulnerability is patched once available. If no patch exists, consider disabling or uninstalling the plugin until a fix is released. 2. Restrict administrator access strictly to trusted personnel and enforce strong authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 3. Audit installed plugins and themes to identify any that may provide POP chains exploitable in conjunction with this vulnerability; remove or update such components. 4. Implement Web Application Firewalls (WAF) with rules to detect and block suspicious deserialization payloads or abnormal bulk action requests targeting the plugin. 5. Monitor logs for unusual administrator activity or unexpected bulk actions within WordPress dashboards. 6. Regularly back up website data and files to enable recovery in case of file deletion or data corruption. 7. Conduct security assessments and penetration tests focusing on plugin vulnerabilities and deserialization attack vectors. 8. Educate administrators about phishing and social engineering risks to prevent credential theft that could lead to exploitation.