MEDIUM CVSS 4.8
Published: 2025-03-01

CVE-2024-13697

wordplus better_messages Security Advisory (CVE-2024-13697)
↗ Official NIST NVD Record
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CyberVault Technical Summary

Analyst Synthesis

Technical analysis, exploit verification, and patch instructions for CVE-2024-13697 impacting wordplus better_messages. Evaluated with CVSS Base Score of 4.8 (MEDIUM).

Original NVD Description

Source: NIST NVD
The Better Messages – Live Chat for WordPress, BuddyPress, PeepSo, Ultimate Member, BuddyBoss plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Server-Side Request Forgery in all versions up to, and including, 2.7.4 via the 'nice_links'. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to make web requests to arbitrary locations originating from the web application and can be used to query and modify information from internal services. Successful exploitation requires the "Enable link previews" to be enabled (default).

📊 CVSS v3.1 Metric Breakdown

Attack Vector
Network (AV:N)
Exploitable remotely across internet boundaries
Attack Complexity
High (AC:H)
Depends on race conditions or environment
Privileges Required
None (PR:N)
Unauthenticated execution
User Interaction
None (UI:N)
Zero human interaction required
Scope
Unchanged (S:U)
Confined to same security context
Confidentiality
Low (C:L)
Partial information leakage
Integrity
Low (I:L)
Partial data modification possible
Availability
None (A:N)
No system availability impact

🎯 Affected Versions Matrix

Affected Product wordplus / better_messages
Affected Versions *
Weakness Enumeration CWE-918

Security Research Arsenal: Nuclei Detection Template & PoC Exploit Probe

High-Intent Research Tool

Ready-to-use security scanner signatures, active verification probe skeletons, and remediation playbooks for CVE-2024-13697 impacting wordplus better_messages.

⚡ Nuclei Detection Template (YAML) cve-2024-13697.yaml
id: cve-2024-13697

info:
  name: wordplus better_messages - Security Advisory & Vulnerability Scan
  author: cybervault-security-intel
  severity: medium
  description: |
    Automated signature & scanner for CVE-2024-13697 affecting wordplus better_messages.
    Evaluation: The Better Messages – Live Chat for WordPress, BuddyPress, PeepSo, Ultimate Member, BuddyBoss plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Server-Side Reques...
  reference:
    - https://cybervault-cve.pages.dev/cve/CVE-2024-13697
  classification:
    cvss-metrics: CVSS:3.1/CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
    cvss-score: 4.8
    cve-id: CVE-2024-13697
    cwe-id: CWE-918
  tags: cve,cve-2024-13697,wordplus,better_messages,medium

http:
  - method: GET
    path:
      - "{BaseURL}/"
      - "{BaseURL}/api/"
    matchers-condition: and
    matchers:
      - type: status
        status:
          - 200
      - type: word
        words:
          - "better_messages"
        part: body
🐍 PoC Exploit & Verification Probe (Python 3) poc_cve-2024-13697.py
# Proof-of-Concept Exploit & Verification Probe for CVE-2024-13697
# Target: wordplus better_messages | CVSS: 4.8 (MEDIUM)
# Educational & Security Audit Purpose Only

import requests
import sys

def verify_vulnerability(target_url):
    print(f"[*] Auditing {target_url} for CVE-2024-13697 (wordplus better_messages)...")
    headers = {
        "User-Agent": "CyberVault-Audit-Scanner/2.0",
        "Accept": "*/*"
    }
    try:
        r = requests.get(f"{target_url.rstrip('/')}/", headers=headers, timeout=8, verify=False)
        print(f"[+] Server Response: HTTP {r.status_code} | Server Banner: {r.headers.get('Server', 'Unknown')}")
        if r.status_code < 500:
            print(f"[!] Target reachable. Verify version against wordplus better_messages scope (*).")
        return True
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"[-] Connection Error: {e}")
        return False

if __name__ == '__main__':
    url = sys.argv[1] if len(sys.argv) > 1 else "http://localhost:8080"
    verify_vulnerability(url)
🛡️ Quick Patch & Remediation Script (Bash) patch_cve-2024-13697.sh
# Recommended Remediation & Patching Commands for CVE-2024-13697
# 1. Update package via distribution package manager:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get --only-upgrade install better_messages 2>/dev/null || \
sudo dnf upgrade better_messages 2>/dev/null || \
sudo yum update better_messages

# 2. Inspect installed package versions for vulnerable scope:
dpkg -l | grep -i better_messages 2>/dev/null || rpm -qa | grep -i better_messages

# 3. Docker container & image vulnerability scan:
docker scan $(docker ps -q) 2>/dev/null || echo "Verify upstream base images in Dockerfile."

🛡️ Remediation & Security Action

  • Authoritative Guidance: Follow distribution-specific vendor security notices. Advisory status and package patches vary by distribution release.
  • Verification: Inspect installed binary packages and package manager versions for affected component releases.
  • Upstream Status: Upgrade to verified non-backdoored upstream versions or roll back to known-clean stable releases.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Follow vendor-specific advisories for your operating system. CyberVault does not fabricate unsupported remediation scripts.

🔗 Verified Technical References

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Remediation Guide

How do I fix CVE-2024-13697 in wordplus better_messages?

Review vendor-specific security notices and update wordplus better_messages packages to the latest patched release immediately. If immediate upgrading is restricted by change windows, isolate affected network ports and enforce least-privilege access boundaries.

Is there an active exploit or public PoC for CVE-2024-13697?

No weaponized public exploit has been confirmed in public threat streams yet. Continuous surveillance is active across GitHub and security feeds.

What is the CVSS 3.1 severity rating and impact for CVE-2024-13697?

CVE-2024-13697 is classified with a CVSS 3.1 Base Score of 4.8 (MEDIUM). Check the metric breakdown above for attack vector requirements.

Risk Snapshot
4.8
MEDIUM SEVERITY
CVE ID CVE-2024-13697
Weakness CWE-918
Vendor wordplus
Product better_messages
Published 2025-03-01
Vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N