📄 Description (English)
The Hustle – Email Marketing, Lead Generation, Optins, Popups plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file uploads due to incorrect file type validation in the action_import_module() function in all versions up to, and including, 7.8.9.2. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with a lower-privileged role (e.g., Subscriber-level access and above), to upload arbitrary files on the affected site's server which may make remote code execution possible. Successful exploitation requires an admin to grant Hustle module permissions (or module edit access) to the low-privileged user so they can access the Hustle admin page and obtain the required nonce.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
The Hustle WordPress plugin (versions ≤7.8.9.2) contains a critical arbitrary file upload vulnerability in its import functionality that allows authenticated low-privileged users to upload malicious files and achieve remote code execution. This vulnerability requires prior admin configuration granting module permissions to the attacker. The vulnerability poses significant risk to Saudi organizations using WordPress for content management, particularly those with multi-user environments.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: May 3, 2026 07:17
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
High impact for Saudi organizations using WordPress-based marketing and lead generation platforms. Most affected sectors: (1) Banking & Financial Services - using Hustle for customer engagement and lead capture; (2) E-commerce & Retail - leveraging email marketing features; (3) Government agencies & municipalities - utilizing WordPress for public-facing portals; (4) Healthcare providers - using email marketing for patient communication; (5) Telecommunications - STC and other providers using WordPress for customer engagement. Risk is elevated in organizations with shared WordPress environments or agencies managing multiple client sites.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking & Financial Services
E-commerce & Retail
Government & Public Administration
Healthcare & Medical Services
Telecommunications
Media & Publishing
Education
Hospitality & Tourism
Real Estate & Property Management
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application
T1199 - Trusted Relationship
T1566 - Phishing
T1598 - Phishing for Information
T1105 - Ingress Tool Transfer
T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter
T1053 - Scheduled Task/Job
T1098 - Account Manipulation
T1136 - Create Account
T1543 - Create or Modify System Process
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
7.8
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Audit all WordPress installations for Hustle plugin presence and version (versions ≤7.8.9.2 are vulnerable)
2. Review user roles and permissions - identify all non-admin users with Hustle module edit access
3. Check server logs and file upload directories for suspicious uploads (especially .php, .phtml, .php5, .phar files) from the past 90 days
4. Disable Hustle plugin immediately if not actively used
PATCHING:
1. Update Hustle plugin to version 7.8.9.3 or later immediately
2. Test update in staging environment first to ensure compatibility
3. Verify all functionality post-update
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if immediate patching not possible):
1. Restrict Hustle module permissions - remove edit access from all non-admin users
2. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to block suspicious file uploads to Hustle directories
3. Disable file upload functionality in Hustle if not required
4. Implement strict file type validation at web server level (.htaccess or nginx config)
5. Set proper file permissions (644 for files, 755 for directories) in wp-content/uploads
6. Disable PHP execution in upload directories via web server configuration
DETECTION:
1. Monitor WordPress admin logs for Hustle import module access by low-privileged users
2. Alert on any .php file uploads to Hustle directories
3. Monitor for suspicious process execution from web server user context
4. Review file modification timestamps in wp-content/uploads directories
5. Implement IDS/IPS signatures for Hustle import function exploitation attempts
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تدقيق جميع تثبيتات WordPress للتحقق من وجود مكون Hustle والإصدار (الإصدارات ≤7.8.9.2 معرضة للخطر)
2. مراجعة أدوار وصلاحيات المستخدمين - تحديد جميع المستخدمين غير المسؤولين الذين لديهم صلاحية تحرير وحدة Hustle
3. فحص سجلات الخادم ومجلدات تحميل الملفات بحثًا عن تحميلات مريبة (خاصة ملفات .php و .phtml و .php5 و .phar) من آخر 90 يومًا
4. تعطيل مكون Hustle فورًا إذا لم يكن قيد الاستخدام النشط
التصحيح:
1. تحديث مكون Hustle إلى الإصدار 7.8.9.3 أو أحدث فورًا
2. اختبار التحديث في بيئة التطوير أولاً للتأكد من التوافق
3. التحقق من جميع الوظائف بعد التحديث
الضوابط البديلة (إذا لم يكن التصحيح الفوري ممكنًا):
1. تقييد صلاحيات وحدة Hustle - إزالة صلاحية التحرير من جميع المستخدمين غير المسؤولين
2. تطبيق قواعد جدار حماية تطبيقات الويب (WAF) لحظر تحميلات الملفات المريبة إلى مجلدات Hustle
3. تعطيل وظيفة تحميل الملفات في Hustle إذا لم تكن مطلوبة
4. تطبيق التحقق الصارم من نوع الملف على مستوى خادم الويب
5. تعيين الأذونات الصحيحة (644 للملفات و 755 للمجلدات) في مجلدات التحميل
6. تعطيل تنفيذ PHP في مجلدات التحميل عبر تكوين خادم الويب
الكشف:
1. مراقبة سجلات WordPress الإدارية لوصول وحدة استيراد Hustle من قبل المستخدمين ذوي الامتيازات المنخفضة
2. التنبيه على أي تحميلات ملفات .php إلى مجلدات Hustle
3. مراقبة تنفيذ العمليات المريبة من سياق مستخدم خادم الويب
4. مراجعة طوابع زمن تعديل الملفات في مجلدات التحميل
5. تطبيق توقيعات IDS/IPS لمحاولات استغلال وظيفة استيراد Hustle
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
5.1.1 - Access Control and Authentication
5.2.1 - User Access Management
5.3.1 - Privileged Access Management
6.1.1 - Malware Protection
6.2.1 - Vulnerability Management
7.1.1 - Audit Logging
7.2.1 - Security Monitoring
🔵 SAMA CSF
ID.AM-2 - Software Inventory
PR.AC-1 - Access Control Policy
PR.AC-4 - Access Rights Management
PR.PT-1 - Security Awareness and Training
DE.CM-1 - Network Monitoring
DE.CM-3 - Personnel Activity Monitoring
RS.MI-1 - Incident Response Procedures
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.5.1.1 - Policies for information security
A.6.1.1 - Information security roles and responsibilities
A.6.2.1 - Information security coordination
A.8.1.1 - User endpoint devices
A.8.2.1 - User access management
A.8.2.2 - User access provisioning
A.8.2.3 - Management of privileged access rights
A.8.3.1 - Password management
A.12.2.1 - Restrictions on software installation
A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
1.1 - Firewall configuration standards
2.1 - Default security parameters
6.2 - Security patches and updates
6.5.1 - Injection flaws
6.5.8 - Improper access control
7.1 - Limit access to system components
8.1 - User identification and authentication
11.2 - Vulnerability scanning