CVE-2024-5085 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data) found in the Hash Form – Drag & Drop Form Builder plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 1.1.0. The issue arises from unsafe deserialization in the 'process_entry' function, where untrusted input is deserialized without proper validation or sanitization. This flaw enables unauthenticated attackers to perform PHP Object Injection, potentially manipulating application logic or triggering malicious behaviors. However, the plugin itself does not contain a known POP chain, which is typically required to escalate the injection into more severe impacts such as remote code execution (RCE). If the target WordPress environment includes other plugins or themes that provide a POP chain, attackers could leverage this vulnerability to delete arbitrary files, access sensitive information, or execute arbitrary code on the server. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable without authentication or user interaction, but requires high attack complexity due to the need for a suitable POP chain. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.1, reflecting high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts. No patches or exploit code are currently publicly available, but the risk remains significant due to the widespread use of WordPress and the plugin's functionality in form handling.

The impact of CVE-2024-5085 on organizations worldwide can be severe, particularly for those running WordPress sites with the vulnerable Hash Form plugin installed. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized deletion of files, compromising website availability and data integrity. Sensitive data exposure could result in privacy violations and regulatory non-compliance. In worst-case scenarios, if combined with other vulnerable components providing a POP chain, attackers could achieve remote code execution, leading to full system compromise, lateral movement, and persistent backdoors. This could disrupt business operations, damage reputation, and incur financial losses. The vulnerability's unauthenticated remote exploitability increases the attack surface, making it attractive for opportunistic attackers and automated scanning tools. Organizations relying on this plugin for critical customer-facing forms or data collection are at heightened risk. Additionally, the lack of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive mitigation before widespread attacks occur.

To mitigate CVE-2024-5085, organizations should immediately assess their WordPress environments for the presence of the Hash Form – Drag & Drop Form Builder plugin and its version. Since no official patch is currently available, consider the following specific actions: 1) Temporarily disable or remove the vulnerable plugin until a fixed version is released. 2) Restrict access to the WordPress admin and form processing endpoints via web application firewalls (WAFs) or IP whitelisting to reduce exposure. 3) Monitor logs for suspicious deserialization attempts or unusual POST requests targeting form submission endpoints. 4) Audit other installed plugins and themes for known POP chains that could be chained with this vulnerability and update or remove them accordingly. 5) Employ runtime application self-protection (RASP) or PHP security extensions that can detect or block unsafe deserialization. 6) Regularly back up website data and files to enable recovery in case of compromise. 7) Follow vendor announcements closely for patches and apply updates promptly once available. 8) Educate development and security teams about the risks of unsafe deserialization and secure coding practices to prevent similar issues in custom code.