CVE-2024-0449 in Free Chat Bot Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/13/2024
The ArtiBot Free Chat Bot for WordPress WebSites plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via admin settings in all versions up to, and including, 1.1.6 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with administrator-level permissions and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page. This only affects multi-site installations and installations where unfiltered_html has been disabled.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-0449 affects the ArtiBot Free Chat Bot for WordPress plugin, specifically targeting versions up to and including 1.1.6. This represents a critical security flaw that exploits the plugin's failure to properly sanitize user inputs and escape output data within the administrative settings interface. The vulnerability manifests as a stored cross-site scripting attack vector, meaning that malicious scripts injected by an attacker will persist in the system and execute automatically whenever affected pages are accessed by other users. The flaw is particularly concerning because it requires only administrator-level privileges to exploit, making it accessible to users with significant control over the WordPress installation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's administrative configuration pages. When administrators modify settings through the WordPress admin interface, the plugin fails to properly sanitize the data entered, allowing potentially malicious script code to be stored directly in the database. This stored content is then served back to users without adequate output escaping, creating a persistent XSS vulnerability. The vulnerability's impact is amplified in multi-site WordPress installations where the attack can potentially affect multiple sites within the network, and it specifically requires installations where the unfiltered_html capability has been disabled to manifest properly.
This vulnerability operates under the CWE-79 classification as a Stored Cross-Site Scripting flaw, which is categorized as a critical web application security weakness in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. From an operational security perspective, the vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in the context of the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further compromise of the WordPress installation. The attack requires minimal privileges since only administrator-level access is needed, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative credentials might be compromised. The vulnerability affects the core WordPress functionality by undermining the integrity of the administrative interface and user data.
The exploitation of this vulnerability follows patterns consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically focusing on JavaScript execution within web browsers. Attackers can leverage this flaw to redirect users to malicious sites, steal cookies and session tokens, or inject additional malicious payloads that can further compromise the WordPress environment. The multi-site installation requirement creates additional attack surface, as a successful exploitation in one site could potentially impact the entire network. Organizations should consider implementing proper input validation, output escaping, and privilege separation measures as mitigation strategies, while also ensuring that all WordPress plugins are kept up to date with the latest security patches.
The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and output escaping in web applications, particularly within administrative interfaces where privileged users can modify system configuration. The flaw represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and proper data validation that could have been prevented through adherence to secure coding practices. Organizations should conduct immediate vulnerability assessments to identify affected installations and implement mitigation strategies including plugin updates, security hardening, and monitoring for suspicious administrative activities. The vulnerability also highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of third-party WordPress plugins, particularly those with administrative capabilities that can affect the entire site or network infrastructure.