CVE-2024-13453 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code) found in the Contact Form & SMTP Plugin for WordPress by PirateForms. This plugin, widely used for managing contact forms and SMTP email functionality on WordPress sites, suffers from a critical flaw in all versions up to and including 2.6.0. The vulnerability arises because the plugin improperly validates input before passing it to the WordPress do_shortcode function, which processes shortcodes embedded in content. An unauthenticated attacker can exploit this by submitting crafted input that triggers arbitrary shortcode execution. Since shortcodes can execute PHP code or other sensitive operations, this leads to a code injection scenario. The vulnerability does not require any authentication or user interaction, making it highly accessible for remote attackers. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.3 indicates a high severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, and no user interaction needed. The impact includes potential unauthorized disclosure of information, modification of site content, and disruption of service. Although no exploits have been reported in the wild yet, the vulnerability's nature and ease of exploitation make it a significant risk for WordPress sites using this plugin. The lack of available patches at the time of disclosure increases urgency for mitigation.

The impact of CVE-2024-13453 is substantial for organizations relying on the affected WordPress plugin. Successful exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary shortcodes remotely without authentication, which can lead to unauthorized code execution on the web server. This can result in data leakage, defacement of websites, insertion of malicious content, or complete site takeover. The integrity of website content and the confidentiality of user data can be compromised. Availability may also be affected if attackers deploy denial-of-service payloads or disrupt normal plugin functionality. Given WordPress's widespread use globally, especially among small to medium businesses and content-driven websites, this vulnerability poses a broad risk. Attackers could leverage this flaw to establish persistent backdoors or pivot to other internal systems. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the vulnerability’s characteristics suggest it could be rapidly weaponized once publicized.

To mitigate CVE-2024-13453, organizations should immediately update the Contact Form & SMTP Plugin for WordPress by PirateForms to a patched version once available. Until a patch is released, administrators should consider disabling or removing the plugin to eliminate the attack surface. Implementing Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious shortcode patterns or unusual POST requests targeting the plugin endpoints can provide temporary protection. Restricting access to the WordPress admin and plugin endpoints via IP whitelisting or VPN can reduce exposure. Regularly auditing installed plugins for vulnerabilities and minimizing the use of plugins from less-established vendors can reduce risk. Monitoring logs for unusual shortcode execution attempts or unexpected site behavior is critical for early detection. Additionally, enforcing the principle of least privilege for WordPress users and isolating the WordPress environment can limit the impact of potential exploitation.