CVE-2024-9234
published 2024-10-11CVE-2024-9234: The GutenKit – Page Builder Blocks, Patterns, and Templates for Gutenberg Block Editor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file uploads due to a…
PriorityP187critical9.8CVSS 3.1
AVNACLPRNUINSUCHIHAH
ITWEXPLOITVulnCheck KEVInitial access
Exploited in the wild
EPSS
10.43%
95.2th percentile
The GutenKit – Page Builder Blocks, Patterns, and Templates for Gutenberg Block Editor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file uploads due to a missing capability check on the install_and_activate_plugin_from_external() function (install-active-plugin REST API endpoint) in all versions up to, and including, 2.1.0. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to install and activate arbitrary plugins, or utilize the functionality to upload arbitrary files spoofed like plugins.
Detection & IOCsextracted from sources · hover to see the quote
commandPOST /wp-json/gutenkit/v1/install-active-plugin HTTP/1.1
- →Monitor WordPress access logs for POST requests to the unauthenticated REST endpoint /wp-json/gutenkit/v1/install-active-plugin, which is the direct attack vector for CVE-2024-9234. ↗
- →Check WordPress plugin directories for unexpected folders named /up, /background-image-cropper, /ultra-seo-processor-wp, /oke, and /wp-query-console as indicators of post-exploitation plugin drops. ↗
- →Detect the malicious 'up' ZIP archive being fetched from GitHub and installed as a plugin; it contains obfuscated scripts for file upload/download/delete and permission changes. ↗
- →Look for a password-protected script disguised as a component of the All in One SEO plugin that automatically logs in the attacker as an administrator. ↗
- →Use the Nuclei template matcher: a JSON response body containing both 'Failed to unzip plugin' and 'success":false' with HTTP 200 and Content-Type application/json confirms a vulnerable GutenKit endpoint.
- →Use the FOFA fingerprint query body="wp-content/plugins/gutenkit-blocks-addon" to identify WordPress sites running the GutenKit plugin for targeted scanning.
- ·The vulnerability exists only in GutenKit versions up to and including 2.1.0; version 2.1.1 (released October 2024) contains the fix with proper capability checks. ↗
- ·The attack is unauthenticated — no credentials or session tokens are required to exploit the install-active-plugin REST endpoint, making mass exploitation trivial. ↗
- ·The Nuclei detection template is marked 'intrusive' as it sends a live exploit request to the target endpoint with an external callback URL.
CVSS provenance
nvdv3.19.8CRITICALCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vulncheck9.8CRITICAL
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GHSA
GHSA-7cmx-277j-7rf8: The GutenKit – Page Builder Blocks, Patterns, and Templates for Gutenberg Block Editor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file uploads du
ghsa_unreviewed·2024-10-11
CVE-2024-9234 [CRITICAL] CWE-862 GHSA-7cmx-277j-7rf8: The GutenKit – Page Builder Blocks, Patterns, and Templates for Gutenberg Block Editor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file uploads du
The GutenKit – Page Builder Blocks, Patterns, and Templates for Gutenberg Block Editor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file uploads due to a missing capability check on the install_and_activate_plugin_from_external() function (install-active-plugin REST API endpoint) in all versions up to, and including, 2.1.0. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to install and activate arbitrary plugins, or utilize the functionality to upload arbitrary files spoofed like plugins.
VulnCheck
wpmet gutenkit Missing Authorization
vulncheck·2024·CVSS 9.8
CVE-2024-9234 [CRITICAL] wpmet gutenkit Missing Authorization
wpmet gutenkit Missing Authorization
The GutenKit – Page Builder Blocks, Patterns, and Templates for Gutenberg Block Editor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file uploads due to a missing capability check on the install_and_activate_plugin_from_external() function (install-active-plugin REST API endpoint) in all versions up to, and including, 2.1.0. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to install and activate arbitrary plugins, or utilize the functionality to upload arbitrary files spoofed like plugins.
Affected: GutenKit Page Builder Blocks, Patterns, and Templates for Gutenberg Block Editor Plugin for WordPress
Required Action: Apply remediations or mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if remediation or mitigations are una
No detection rules found.
Nuclei
GutenKit <= 2.1.0 - Arbitrary File Upload
nuclei·CVSS 9.8
CVE-2024-9234 [CRITICAL] GutenKit <= 2.1.0 - Arbitrary File Upload
GutenKit <= 2.1.0 - Arbitrary File Upload
The GutenKit Page Builder Blocks, Patterns, and Templates for Gutenberg Block Editor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file uploads due to a missing capability check on the install_and_activate_plugin_from_external() function (install-active-plugin REST API endpoint) in all versions up to, and including, 2.1.0. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to install and activate arbitrary plugins, or utilize the functionality to upload arbitrary files spoofed like plugins.
Template:
id: CVE-2024-9234
info:
name: GutenKit <= 2.1.0 - Arbitrary File Upload
author: s4e-io
severity: critical
description: |
The GutenKit Page Builder Blocks, Patterns, and Templates for Gutenberg Block Editor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to
Bleepingcomputer
Hackers launch mass attacks exploiting outdated WordPress plugins
blogs_bleepingcomputer·2025-10-24·CVSS 9.8
[CRITICAL] Hackers launch mass attacks exploiting outdated WordPress plugins
## Hackers launch mass attacks exploiting outdated WordPress plugins
## Bill Toulas
A widespread exploitation campaign is targeting WordPress websites with GutenKit and Hunk Companion plugins vulnerable to critical-severity, old security issues that can be used to achieve remote code execution (RCE).
WordPress security firm Wordfence says that it blocked 8.7 million attack attempts against its customers in just two days, October 8 and 9.
The campaign expoits three flaws, tracked as CVE-2024-9234, CVE-2024-9707, and CVE-2024-11972, all rated critical (CVSS 9.8).
CVE-2024-9234 is an unauthenticated REST-endpoint flaw in the GutenKit plugin with 40,000 installs that allows installing arbitrary plugins without authentication.
CVE-2024-9707 and CVE-2024-11972 are missing-authorization vul
Greynoiseio
NoiseLetter October 2025
blogs_greynoiseio
NoiseLetter October 2025
CVE Disclosure Early Warning Get an early warning when traffic spikes indicate a high likelihood of new disclosures
Compromised Asset Detection Find out immediately if an asset communicates with a malicious IP address
Vulnerability Prioritization Get real-time insight into active exploitation trends to better understand risk and severity
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Incident Investigation Add context to incidents to speed the determinations of scope and timelines
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Why GreyNoise
CVE Disclosure Early Warning Get an early warning when traffic spikes indicate a high likelihood of new disclosures
Compromised Asset Detection Fin
https://github.com/WordPressBugBounty/plugins-gutenkit-blocks-addon/blob/dc3738bb821cf1d93a11379b8695793fa5e1b9e6/gutenkit-blocks-addon/includes/Admin/Api/ActivePluginData.php#L76https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/gutenkit-blocks-addon/tags/2.1.0/includes/Admin/Api/ActivePluginData.php?rev=3159783#L76https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/gutenkit-blocks-addon/tags/2.1.1/includes/Admin/Api/ActivePluginData.php?rev=3164886https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/e44c5dc0-6bf6-417a-9383-b345ff57ac32?source=cve
2024-10-11
Published
Exploited in the wild