CVE-2024-54259

Executive Summary

CVE-2024-54259 is a Path Traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) affecting the DELUCKS SEO WordPress plugin, versions up to and including 2.7.2. This flaw allows an unauthenticated attacker to read arbitrary files on the server, potentially exposing sensitive configuration files, database credentials, or source code. The vulnerability is classified as High severity with a CVSS score of 6.5, driven by network exploitability and no required privileges. As of this report, no official patch has been released, and no public proof-of-concept (PoC) or exploit code is available. The EPSS score is 0.0%, indicating low exploitation activity in the wild, but the risk remains significant for unpatched installations.

Supply Chain & Package Security

This vulnerability is specific to the WordPress plugin ecosystem. The DELUCKS SEO plugin is distributed via the WordPress Plugin Directory and potentially other channels. Users should verify the integrity of their plugin files and monitor for updates from the vendor. Since no patch is available, the supply chain risk is elevated, and users must consider alternative mitigations.

CVSS Breakdown & Threat Level

• Attack Vector (AV): Network (N) – Exploitable remotely.
• Attack Complexity (AC): Low (L) – No special conditions required.
• Privileges Required (PR): None (N) – No authentication needed.
• User Interaction (UI): None (N) – No user action required.
• Scope (S): Unchanged (U) – Vulnerability does not affect other components.
• Confidentiality (C): High (H) – Full file read capability.
• Integrity (I): None (N) – No file modification.
• Availability (A): None (N) – No denial of service.

Threat Level: High. The vulnerability is easy to exploit and can lead to significant information disclosure.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability resides in the delucks-seo plugin's file handling functionality. The plugin likely uses user-supplied input (e.g., via a file parameter in a URL or POST request) to read files without proper sanitization. The path traversal occurs when the input contains sequences like ../ to navigate outside the intended directory.

Example vulnerable code pattern (conceptual):

$file = $_GET['file'];
$content = file_get_contents($file);
echo $content;

Without validation, an attacker can request ?file=../../wp-config.php to read the WordPress configuration file.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Since no patch is available, we compare the vulnerable code to a hypothetical secure implementation.

Vulnerable Code (delucks-seo <= 2.7.2):

$file = $_REQUEST['file'];
$path = WP_CONTENT_DIR . '/uploads/delucks/' . $file;
if (file_exists($path)) {
    readfile($path);
}

This code directly concatenates user input without sanitization, allowing path traversal.

Patched Code (Hypothetical):

$file = basename($_REQUEST['file']);
$path = WP_CONTENT_DIR . '/uploads/delucks/' . $file;
if (file_exists($path) && strpos(realpath($path), realpath(WP_CONTENT_DIR . '/uploads/delucks/')) === 0) {
    readfile($path);
}

The patched version uses basename() to strip directory components and realpath() to verify the resolved path stays within the allowed directory.

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team (Offensive)

Prerequisites:

• Target running WordPress with DELUCKS SEO plugin <= 2.7.2.
• No authentication required.

Exploitation Steps:

1. Identify the vulnerable endpoint (e.g., /wp-content/plugins/delucks-seo/readfile.php).
2. Craft a path traversal payload:

   GET /wp-content/plugins/delucks-seo/readfile.php?file=../../../../wp-config.php HTTP/1.1
   Host: target.com
   

3. Observe the response containing the contents of wp-config.php.

Lab Setup:

• Use a local WordPress installation with the vulnerable plugin.
• Test with curl:

  curl -v "http://localhost/wp-content/plugins/delucks-seo/readfile.php?file=../../../../etc/passwd"
  

Blue Team (Defensive)

Detection:

• Monitor web server logs for ../ patterns in request URIs.
• Deploy WAF rules to block path traversal attempts.

Hunting:

• Search for requests to plugin files with suspicious parameters.
• Check for outbound connections from the web server to unknown IPs (data exfiltration).

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• File Paths: /wp-content/plugins/delucks-seo/ (any file within this directory).
• URL Patterns: ?file=..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2fwp-config.php or similar encoded traversal sequences.
• Log Entries: HTTP 200 responses to requests containing ../ in the file parameter.
• Network: Outbound connections from the web server to external IPs after exploitation.

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2024_54259_Path_Traversal {
    meta:
        description = "Detects path traversal attempts against DELUCKS SEO plugin"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-10"
        reference = "CVE-2024-54259"
    strings:
        $traversal1 = "../"
        $traversal2 = "..\\"
        $traversal3 = "%2e%2e%2f"
        $traversal4 = "%2e%2e\\"
        $plugin_path = "/wp-content/plugins/delucks-seo/"
    condition:
        any of ($traversal*) and $plugin_path
}

Sigma Rule

title: CVE-2024-54259 Path Traversal Attempt
id: 7a8b9c0d-1e2f-3a4b-5c6d-7e8f9a0b1c2d
status: experimental
description: Detects path traversal attempts against DELUCKS SEO WordPress plugin
author: Valters IT
date: 2025-04-10
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: apache
detection:
    selection:
        cs-uri-query|contains:
            - '../'
            - '..\\'
            - '%2e%2e%2f'
            - '%2e%2e\\'
        cs-uri-stem|contains: '/wp-content/plugins/delucks-seo/'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of relative paths in plugin functionality (unlikely)
level: high

Suricata Rule

alert http any any -> any any (msg:"CVE-2024-54259 Path Traversal Attempt"; flow:to_server,established; content:"/wp-content/plugins/delucks-seo/"; http_uri; pcre:"/(\.\.\/|\.\.\\|%2e%2e%2f|%2e%2e\\)/i"; classtype:attempted-recon; sid:1000001; rev:1;)

Remediation & Mitigation

Immediate Actions:

1. Disable the plugin if not critical to operations.
2. Apply virtual patching via WAF rules to block path traversal patterns.
3. Restrict file permissions on sensitive files (e.g., wp-config.php should be readable only by the web server user).

Long-term Fix:

• Monitor the vendor's website for a patched version.
• Consider replacing the plugin with an alternative that is actively maintained.

Workaround:

• Add the following to .htaccess to block direct access to plugin files:

  <FilesMatch "delucks-seo">
      Order allow,deny
      Deny from all
  </FilesMatch>
  

Valters IT
Senior DevSecOps & Cyber Threat Intelligence Expert