CVE-2024-7434 is a deserialization vulnerability classified under CWE-502 found in the UltraPress WordPress theme, versions up to and including 1.2.1. The flaw arises from unsafe deserialization of untrusted input, allowing authenticated users with at least Contributor-level permissions to inject malicious PHP objects. This PHP Object Injection can lead to severe consequences if a Property Oriented Programming (POP) gadget chain exists in the environment, which may be provided by other installed plugins or themes. Such a chain could enable attackers to delete arbitrary files, access sensitive information, or execute arbitrary code on the server. The vulnerability does not require user interaction beyond authentication, and the attack vector is network-based with low attack complexity. The CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8 reflects high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with scope unchanged. Although no known exploits are currently in the wild, the potential for exploitation is significant given the widespread use of WordPress and the UltraPress theme. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed on October 1, 2024, with no official patches available at the time of reporting, increasing the urgency for mitigation.

The impact of CVE-2024-7434 is substantial for organizations running WordPress sites with the UltraPress theme. Successful exploitation can lead to complete compromise of the affected web server, including unauthorized data access, deletion of critical files, and remote code execution. This can result in data breaches, defacement of websites, service outages, and potential lateral movement within the network. Given that Contributor-level access is sufficient to exploit the vulnerability, attackers who gain low-level authenticated access—through phishing, credential stuffing, or other means—can escalate privileges and fully compromise the site. The vulnerability threatens the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems, potentially impacting customer trust, regulatory compliance, and business continuity. Organizations relying on UltraPress for their web presence are at risk of targeted attacks, especially if other vulnerable plugins or themes are installed that provide the necessary POP chains.

To mitigate CVE-2024-7434, organizations should first check for and apply any official patches or updates from the UltraPress theme vendor as soon as they become available. In the absence of patches, administrators should consider disabling or removing the UltraPress theme if it is not essential. Restrict Contributor-level and higher permissions strictly to trusted users to reduce the attack surface. Conduct a thorough audit of all installed plugins and themes to identify and remove any that may provide POP gadget chains, thereby limiting the exploitability of the vulnerability. Implement Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious deserialization payloads or PHP object injection attempts. Monitor logs for unusual activity related to deserialization functions or unexpected file operations. Employ strong authentication mechanisms, such as multi-factor authentication, to prevent unauthorized access to contributor accounts. Finally, maintain regular backups and test restoration procedures to ensure rapid recovery in case of compromise.