Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Older WPLMS WordPress plugin versions reportedly let an Instructor-level or higher user upload dangerous files, potentially placing a web shell on the server. That can lead to full site compromise, data theft, defacement, or service disruption. Public sources do not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat this as urgent for any public WordPress LMS using WPLMS, especially with external instructors. Prioritize upgrade and privileged account review before routine maintenance because successful exploitation could compromise the whole website.
Technical view
CVE-2024-56054 is CWE-434 unrestricted upload of a dangerous file type in VibeThemes WPLMS wplms_plugin before 1.9.9.5.2. CVSS 3.1 is 9.1: network-accessible, low complexity, high privileges required, no user interaction, changed scope, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to WordPress sites running WPLMS below 1.9.9.5.2, especially where Instructor or higher accounts exist or are delegated to external users. The source bundle provides no CPEs, so inventory must rely on WordPress plugin/version checks.
Exploitation context
The vulnerability could allow a privileged LMS user to upload a web shell. Sources do not provide exploit code, mass exploitation evidence, or CISA KEV status. The high privilege requirement reduces unauthenticated risk but does not reduce impact after account compromise or insider misuse.
Researcher notes
The public record supports critical severity and dangerous file upload impact, but not active exploitation. The CVSS high-privilege requirement and Patchstack title indicate Instructor-plus context. Confirm exact vulnerable code paths and fixed release details from vendor materials before writing detection logic.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade WPLMS beyond the affected range, 1.9.9.5.2 or later, following vendor guidance.
- Restrict Instructor and higher accounts to trusted users only.
- Review upload controls and block executable file types where supported.
- Check Patchstack and VibeThemes guidance for current remediation details.
- Investigate unexpected files in WordPress upload and plugin directories.
Validation and detection
- Inventory WordPress sites using the WPLMS plugin.
- Confirm installed WPLMS versions are not below 1.9.9.5.2.
- Review privileged LMS accounts for unnecessary Instructor or higher access.
- Inspect web server logs for suspicious upload activity by privileged users.
- Check filesystem changes around plugin and upload directories.
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-434: File access and web shell behavior lookup
File traversal and upload weaknesses can lead teams to review file, web shell, execution, and collection telemetry. 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 lookupFile access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references file access or upload behavior, so file telemetry and web shell review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2024-56054 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
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.1 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
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:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H2.36PatchstackVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
9.1CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
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/wplms_plugin/vulnerability/wordpress-wplms-plugin-1-9-9-5-2-instructor-arbitrary-file-upload-vulnerability?_s_id=cveCVE reference, Patchstack · vdb-entry
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.
Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type
Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.