Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2024-32523 is a high-severity unauthenticated file inclusion issue in the WordPress Mailster plugin through version 4.0.6. A remote attacker may be able to make the site include unintended PHP files, risking data exposure, site changes, and limited availability impact. The provided sources do not confirm active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat this as a near-term remediation item for any internet-facing WordPress site using Mailster. The risk is high because no login is required, but current sources do not prove active exploitation. Prioritize inventory first, then update or disable affected deployments.
Technical view
The CVE describes improper control of filenames used in PHP include/require statements, mapped to CWE-98. The title identifies unauthenticated local file inclusion in EverPress Mailster <= 4.0.6. CVSS 3.1 is 8.1 with network attack vector, no privileges, no user interaction, high complexity, and changed scope.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites running EverPress Mailster at version 4.0.6 or earlier. The source bundle lists Mailster as affected through <= 4.0.6 but does not provide CPEs or installation detection details.
Exploitation context
The issue is remotely reachable and unauthenticated per the CVE metadata, but high attack complexity reduces reliability. KEV is false, and the provided sources do not state known exploitation, public exploit availability, or observed campaigns.
Researcher notes
There is a wording mismatch: the title says local file inclusion, while the CVE description references PHP remote file inclusion under CWE-98. Do not assume remote code execution or a fixed version from this bundle alone. Validate against vendor or Patchstack updates.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for the Mailster plugin and record exact versions.
- Upgrade Mailster above 4.0.6 when vendor guidance identifies a fixed release.
- If no fixed release is available, disable or remove Mailster where business impact allows.
- Monitor EverPress and Patchstack guidance for confirmed remediation details.
- Apply compensating WAF or virtual patching only if sourced from trusted vendor guidance.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether Mailster is installed on each WordPress instance.
- Verify plugin version is 4.0.6 or earlier before prioritizing as affected.
- Review web server and WordPress logs for unusual unauthenticated Mailster-related requests.
- Check Patchstack and CVE records for updated affected-version or fix information.
- Document whether the plugin is internet-facing and required for business operations.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-98: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2024-32523 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 8.1 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:L
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:L2.25.3PatchstackVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.1HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:L
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Plugin/mailster/vulnerability/wordpress-mailster-plugin-4-0-6-unauthenticated-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability?_s_id=cveCVE reference, Patchstack · vdb-entry
- https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/mailster/wordpress-mailster-plugin-4-0-6-unauthenticated-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability?_s_id=cveCVE reference, CVE · vdb-entry, x_transferred
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion')
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.