CVE-2024-1468 is a critical vulnerability identified in the Avada Website Builder theme for WordPress and WooCommerce, affecting all versions up to 7.11.4. The root cause is the lack of proper file type validation in the ajax_import_options() function, which handles file uploads. This deficiency allows authenticated users with contributor-level permissions or higher to upload arbitrary files, including potentially malicious scripts, to the web server. Since contributors typically have limited privileges, this vulnerability significantly elevates the risk profile by enabling privilege escalation through remote code execution (RCE). The vulnerability is classified under CWE-434, which concerns unrestricted file upload of dangerous types. Successful exploitation can lead to full compromise of the web server, data breaches, defacement, or use of the server as a pivot point for further attacks. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.8, indicating a high severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, and no user interaction required beyond authentication. Although no known exploits are currently in the wild, the widespread deployment of Avada in WordPress and WooCommerce sites makes this a critical issue for website administrators and security teams. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it bypasses typical file upload restrictions, and the ajax_import_options() function is a core part of the theme's import functionality, making mitigation non-trivial without updates or configuration changes.

The impact of CVE-2024-1468 is severe for organizations running WordPress sites with the Avada theme, especially those using WooCommerce for e-commerce. Exploitation can lead to remote code execution, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the server, steal sensitive data, modify website content, or deploy malware such as web shells or ransomware. This compromises confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected systems. For e-commerce sites, this can result in theft of customer data, financial fraud, and reputational damage. The vulnerability also increases the risk of lateral movement within the network if the compromised server is connected to internal resources. Since contributor-level users can exploit this, insider threats or compromised contributor accounts pose a significant risk. The broad adoption of Avada, one of the most popular WordPress themes globally, means a large number of websites are potentially vulnerable, increasing the attack surface for cybercriminals. The lack of public exploits currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as attackers may develop exploits rapidly once the vulnerability is public.

To mitigate CVE-2024-1468, organizations should immediately upgrade the Avada theme to a version that addresses this vulnerability once available. In the absence of an official patch, administrators should restrict contributor-level access and review user permissions to minimize the number of users who can upload files. Implementing Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to block suspicious file uploads or requests to the ajax_import_options() endpoint can provide temporary protection. Additionally, disabling or restricting the ajax_import_options() functionality if not required can reduce exposure. Monitoring web server logs for unusual file uploads or execution attempts is critical for early detection. Employing file integrity monitoring and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions can help identify exploitation attempts. Regular backups and incident response plans should be in place to recover quickly if compromise occurs. Finally, educating users about the risks of compromised accounts and enforcing strong authentication mechanisms, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), will reduce the likelihood of credential abuse.