CVE-2024-7412 identifies an information exposure vulnerability (CWE-200) in the No Update Nag WordPress plugin developed by coffee2code. This vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 1.4.12. The root cause is that the plugin permits unauthenticated users to directly access the bootstrap.php file, which has PHP's display_errors setting enabled. When accessed, this file reveals the full filesystem path of the web application. Full path disclosure can provide attackers with valuable reconnaissance information, such as directory structures and installation paths, which can facilitate further targeted attacks like local file inclusion, remote code execution, or privilege escalation if other vulnerabilities exist. The vulnerability does not allow direct compromise or data leakage beyond the path information and does not require any authentication or user interaction, making it straightforward to exploit. However, the disclosed information alone is insufficient to cause damage without additional vulnerabilities. No public exploits or active exploitation have been reported to date. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.3 (medium severity), reflecting the limited confidentiality impact and no integrity or availability impact. This vulnerability underscores the importance of secure error handling and restricting direct access to sensitive files in WordPress plugins.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-7412 is the exposure of sensitive filesystem path information to unauthenticated attackers. While this does not directly compromise confidentiality, integrity, or availability, it significantly aids attackers in reconnaissance activities. By knowing the exact directory structure and file locations, attackers can more easily identify potential targets for further exploitation, such as local file inclusion or privilege escalation vulnerabilities. This can increase the likelihood and success rate of chained attacks against affected WordPress sites. Organizations running the No Update Nag plugin on WordPress sites may face increased risk of targeted attacks, especially if other vulnerabilities exist in their environment. The vulnerability does not cause direct service disruption or data leakage but lowers the overall security posture by leaking internal configuration details. Given WordPress's widespread use globally, many small to medium websites could be exposed, potentially leading to defacement, data theft, or unauthorized access if combined with other flaws.

To mitigate CVE-2024-7412, organizations should immediately update the No Update Nag plugin to a version where this vulnerability is fixed once available. Until a patch is released, administrators should restrict direct access to the bootstrap.php file by implementing web server rules (e.g., using .htaccess or nginx configuration) to deny HTTP requests to this file. Additionally, disable PHP's display_errors directive in production environments to prevent error messages from being exposed publicly. Conduct a thorough review of all WordPress plugins and themes to ensure no other files expose sensitive information. Employ a web application firewall (WAF) to detect and block suspicious requests targeting plugin files. Regularly audit and monitor logs for unusual access patterns. Finally, maintain a layered security approach by keeping WordPress core, plugins, and themes updated and minimizing the attack surface by removing unused plugins.