Critical Remote Code Execution Vulnerability in Pluck CMS 4.7.7-dev2 (CVE Pending)

Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution Flaw Discovered in Pluck CMS 4.7.7-dev2

Security researchers have identified a critical remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability in Pluck CMS 4.7.7-dev2, a lightweight content management system. The flaw, disclosed via Exploit Database (EDB-ID 52460), allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code on vulnerable systems, potentially leading to full system compromise.

Technical Details

The vulnerability stems from improper input validation in Pluck CMS’s core functionality, enabling attackers to inject malicious PHP code via crafted HTTP requests. While no CVE ID has been assigned at the time of disclosure, the exploit has been published in a proof-of-concept (PoC) form, increasing the risk of active exploitation.

Key technical aspects include:

• Affected Version: Pluck CMS 4.7.7-dev2 (development release)
• Attack Vector: Unauthenticated remote exploitation via web requests
• Impact: Arbitrary PHP code execution with the privileges of the web server
• Exploit Availability: Publicly accessible via Exploit Database (EDB-ID 52460)

Impact Analysis

Successful exploitation of this flaw could allow threat actors to:

• Execute arbitrary commands on the underlying server
• Gain persistent access to the compromised system
• Exfiltrate sensitive data or deploy additional malware
• Pivot to other systems within the network

Given the public availability of the exploit and the lack of authentication requirements, organizations running Pluck CMS 4.7.7-dev2 are at immediate risk of targeted attacks. The development version’s use in production environments further exacerbates the threat landscape.

Recommendations

Security teams are advised to take the following actions:

1. Immediate Mitigation: Disable or restrict access to Pluck CMS 4.7.7-dev2 instances until a patch is available.
2. Monitoring: Deploy network and endpoint monitoring to detect exploitation attempts, such as unusual PHP execution patterns or suspicious HTTP requests.
3. Upgrade Path: Migrate to a stable, patched version of Pluck CMS or an alternative CMS with active security support.
4. Incident Response: Prepare for potential compromise by reviewing logs for signs of unauthorized access or code execution.

The vendor has not yet released an official patch. Organizations are urged to monitor the Pluck CMS GitHub repository or official channels for updates.