CVE-2024-7433 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data) found in the Empowerment WordPress theme developed by ultrapressorg. This vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 1.0.2. It stems from the theme's unsafe handling of serialized PHP objects, where user-supplied input is deserialized without proper validation or sanitization. Authenticated attackers with Contributor-level permissions or higher can exploit this flaw to inject crafted PHP objects. Although the theme itself does not contain a known POP chain to directly achieve code execution or file manipulation, the presence of other plugins or themes that provide such chains can be leveraged to perform destructive actions such as arbitrary file deletion, sensitive data disclosure, or remote code execution. The vulnerability does not require user interaction but does require authentication, which lowers the exploitation barrier compared to administrator-only vulnerabilities. The CVSS v3.1 score of 8.8 indicates a high severity due to network attack vector, low attack complexity, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability poses a significant risk to WordPress sites using the Empowerment theme, especially those with multiple plugins installed that might facilitate exploitation.

The impact of CVE-2024-7433 is substantial for organizations running WordPress sites with the Empowerment theme. Successful exploitation can lead to full compromise of the affected website, including arbitrary code execution, deletion of critical files, and exposure of sensitive information. This can result in website defacement, data breaches, loss of customer trust, and potential downtime affecting business operations. Since the vulnerability requires only Contributor-level access, attackers can leverage compromised or weak user accounts to escalate privileges and execute attacks. The risk is amplified in environments where multiple plugins or themes are installed, increasing the likelihood of a usable POP chain for exploitation. Organizations relying on WordPress for e-commerce, content management, or customer engagement are particularly vulnerable, as attackers could manipulate site content or steal user data. Additionally, compromised sites can be used as a pivot point for further attacks within an organization's network or for distributing malware to visitors.

To mitigate CVE-2024-7433, organizations should immediately update the Empowerment theme to a patched version once available. In the absence of an official patch, consider temporarily disabling or replacing the theme to prevent exploitation. Restrict Contributor-level user permissions by auditing and minimizing the number of users with such access, enforcing strong authentication mechanisms, and monitoring for suspicious activity. Implement web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules targeting PHP object injection patterns and deserialization attacks. Conduct thorough plugin and theme audits to identify and remove or update components that may provide POP chains, reducing the attack surface. Employ security plugins that detect and block unauthorized file modifications and code injections. Regularly back up website data and files to enable quick recovery in case of compromise. Finally, monitor logs for unusual deserialization attempts or privilege escalations and educate site administrators about the risks of installing untrusted plugins or themes.