CVE-2024-9849 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-434 (Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type) affecting the Real3D Flipbook Lite – 3D FlipBook, PDF Viewer, PDF Embedder WordPress plugin developed by creativeinteractivemedia. The flaw resides in the 'r3dfb_save_thumbnail_callback' function, which fails to properly validate file types during the upload process. This allows authenticated users with Author-level access or higher to upload arbitrary files, including potentially malicious scripts, to the web server hosting the WordPress site. Because the plugin does not restrict or sanitize the file types, attackers can upload executable files that may lead to remote code execution (RCE), compromising the server's confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability affects all plugin versions up to and including 4.6. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 8.8, indicating a high severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, requiring privileges but no user interaction, and impacting confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no public exploits are currently known, the vulnerability's characteristics make it a prime target for attackers seeking to escalate privileges or deploy web shells. The lack of patch links suggests a fix may not yet be publicly available, emphasizing the need for interim mitigations.

The impact of CVE-2024-9849 is significant for organizations using the affected WordPress plugin. Successful exploitation can lead to remote code execution, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the server, potentially leading to full system compromise. This can result in data breaches, defacement, malware deployment, or use of the server as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. Since the vulnerability requires only Author-level privileges, attackers who compromise or register such accounts can escalate their access dramatically. The availability of the website or service may also be disrupted due to malicious payloads or server instability. Organizations relying on this plugin for document viewing or interactive content are at risk of operational disruption and reputational damage. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not diminish the urgency for remediation, as attackers often develop exploits rapidly once vulnerabilities are disclosed.

To mitigate CVE-2024-9849, organizations should: 1) Immediately restrict or audit user roles to ensure only trusted users have Author-level or higher privileges, minimizing the risk of malicious uploads. 2) Implement web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block suspicious file uploads or execution attempts targeting the plugin's upload endpoints. 3) Monitor server logs and file system changes for unusual activity related to file uploads or execution. 4) Disable or limit the plugin's upload functionality if feasible until a patch is released. 5) Apply principle of least privilege on file system permissions to prevent execution of uploaded files in the plugin's directories. 6) Stay alert for official patches or updates from the vendor and apply them promptly once available. 7) Consider deploying intrusion detection systems (IDS) to detect exploitation attempts. 8) Educate site administrators about the risks of granting Author-level access and enforce strong authentication measures to reduce account compromise risk.