CVE-2024-11501 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data) affecting the webdzier Gallery plugin for WordPress, specifically all versions up to and including 1.3. The flaw exists because the plugin deserializes data from the wd_gallery_$id parameter without proper validation or sanitization, allowing authenticated users with Contributor-level permissions or higher to inject crafted PHP objects. This PHP Object Injection can lead to severe consequences if a suitable POP (Property Oriented Programming) gadget chain is available through other installed plugins or themes. Such a chain could enable attackers to perform arbitrary file deletions, data exfiltration, or remote code execution. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network without user interaction, requiring only low privileges (Contributor or above). The CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 reflects the vulnerability's high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no public exploit or proof-of-concept is known at this time, the risk is significant due to the common use of WordPress and the Gallery plugin in many websites. The lack of an official patch at the time of disclosure necessitates immediate attention to mitigation strategies.

If exploited, this vulnerability can severely compromise affected WordPress sites. Attackers with Contributor-level access can escalate their privileges by injecting malicious PHP objects, potentially leading to remote code execution, arbitrary file deletion, or unauthorized data access if a suitable POP chain exists. This can result in website defacement, data breaches, loss of data integrity, and service disruption. The impact extends beyond the compromised site, as attackers could use the foothold to pivot within the hosting environment or launch further attacks. Given WordPress's widespread adoption, many organizations, including small businesses, media sites, and e-commerce platforms, could be affected. The vulnerability undermines trust in affected websites and may lead to regulatory or compliance issues if sensitive data is exposed.

Organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify the presence of the webdzier Gallery plugin and its version. Until an official patch is released, consider disabling or uninstalling the plugin to eliminate the attack surface. Restrict Contributor-level and higher permissions to trusted users only, minimizing the risk of exploitation. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious serialized payloads targeting the wd_gallery_$id parameter. Monitor logs for unusual activity related to this parameter or unexpected PHP object deserialization attempts. Review and harden other installed plugins and themes to reduce the availability of POP gadget chains that could be leveraged in an attack. Regularly update WordPress core, plugins, and themes to incorporate security fixes promptly. Finally, maintain offline backups to enable recovery in case of compromise.