CVE-2024-0559 in Enhanced Text Widget Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/11/2024
The Enhanced Text Widget WordPress plugin before 1.6.6 does not validate and escape some of its Widget options before outputting them back in attributes, which could allow high privilege users such as admin to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks even when the unfiltered_html capability is disallowed (for example in multisite setup)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2025
The CVE-2024-0559 vulnerability affects the Enhanced Text Widget WordPress plugin version 1.6.5 and earlier, presenting a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw that undermines web application security. This vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's handling of widget options within WordPress's content management framework, where insufficient input validation and output escaping creates persistent attack vectors. The flaw enables malicious actors with administrative privileges to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-provided data within the plugin's widget rendering process. When administrators configure widget options through the WordPress admin interface, the plugin fails to properly validate and escape specific parameters before incorporating them into HTML attributes. This oversight creates a persistent XSS vulnerability because the malicious payloads are stored within the widget configuration and subsequently executed whenever the widget is rendered on a webpage. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates even when WordPress's unfiltered_html capability is restricted, which typically prevents users from injecting raw HTML content.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-0559 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can facilitate sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, credential theft, and privilege escalation within the WordPress environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to inject malicious JavaScript that can capture user input, redirect traffic to malicious domains, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. In multisite WordPress installations where unfiltered_html is commonly restricted for security reasons, this vulnerability becomes even more dangerous as it bypasses the expected security controls designed to prevent such attacks. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious scripts persist until manually removed from the widget configuration.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability by upgrading to Enhanced Text Widget plugin version 1.6.6 or later, which includes proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as monitoring widget configurations for suspicious patterns, conducting regular security audits of plugin installations, and ensuring that administrative privileges are strictly controlled and monitored. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and it can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1548.003 for bypassing user access controls. Additionally, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices as outlined in OWASP Top 10 security principles, particularly in the context of content management systems where user-generated content is processed and rendered.