Regular Expression Denial of Service Vulnerability in WP-GeSHi-Highlight Plugin
CVE-2024-13896

6.5MEDIUM

Key Information:

Vendor
WordPress
Status
WP-geshi-highlight — Rock-solid Syntax Highlighting For 259 Languages
Vendor
CVE Published:
10 April 2025

Badges

👾 Exploit Exists🟡 Public PoC

Summary

The WP-GeSHi-Highlight plugin, used for syntax highlighting in WordPress, has a vulnerability due to improper handling of user-supplied input in its wp_geshi_filter_replace_code() function. This flaw can be exploited to launch Regular Expression Denial of Service (ReDoS) attacks, potentially degrading the responsiveness of the application or causing it to become unresponsive.

Affected Version(s)

WP-GeSHi-Highlight — rock-solid syntax highlighting for 259 languages 0 <= 1.4.3

Exploit Proof of Concept (PoC)

PoC code is written by security researchers to demonstrate the vulnerability can be exploited. PoC code is also a key component for weaponization which could lead to ransomware.

CVE-2024-13896 - Proof of Concept

References

https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/b8b622ea-e090-45ad-8755-...
exploitvdb-entrytechnical-description

CVSS V3.1

Score:
6.5
Severity:
MEDIUM
Confidentiality:
None
Integrity:
None
Availability:
None
Attack Vector:
Network
Attack Complexity:
Low
Privileges Required:
Low
User Interaction:
None
Scope:
Unchanged

Timeline

  • 🟡

    Public PoC available

  • 👾

    Exploit known to exist

  • Vulnerability published

  • Vulnerability Reserved

Credit

Pierre Rudloff
WPScan
.