CVE-2024-0898 in Chat Bubble Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/13/2024
The Chat Bubble – Floating Chat with Contact Chat Icons, Messages, Telegram, Email, SMS, Call me back plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via admin settings in all versions up to, and including, 2.3 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-2024-0898 affects the Chat Bubble WordPress plugin, specifically targeting versions up to and including 2.3. This issue represents a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that exploits insufficient input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's administrative settings. The flaw exists in how the plugin handles user input when processing configuration parameters, creating an avenue for malicious code injection that persists in the database and executes whenever affected pages are accessed. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only administrator-level permissions to exploit, making it accessible to users with elevated privileges who can manipulate plugin settings.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of input data submitted through the plugin's administrative interface. When administrators configure chat bubble settings, the plugin fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied content before storing it in the WordPress database. This allows attackers to inject malicious javascript code that gets stored alongside legitimate configuration data. The stored payload executes in the context of other users' browsers when they access pages containing the vulnerable plugin elements, creating a persistent threat vector. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it only requires authenticated access, meaning an attacker who has gained administrator credentials can immediately exploit this weakness without additional reconnaissance or privilege escalation.
The operational implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple script execution, as it creates a potential attack surface for more sophisticated exploitation techniques. In multi-site WordPress installations, the impact is particularly severe since a successful attack in one site can potentially affect the entire network. The restriction that this vulnerability only affects installations where unfiltered_html has been disabled suggests that the plugin's security model assumes certain default WordPress configurations, but this assumption can be bypassed through malicious configuration. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws resulting from insufficient input sanitization, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through credential compromise. The persistent nature of stored XSS makes it particularly dangerous for long-term attacks, as malicious scripts can execute against all users who access affected pages without requiring repeated exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-0898 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to the latest version where the vulnerability has been patched. Administrators should implement strict access controls and regularly audit user permissions to minimize the risk of unauthorized access to administrative interfaces. Additional protective measures include monitoring plugin settings for unauthorized changes, implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious script injections, and conducting regular security audits of WordPress installations. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and output escaping practices in plugin development, particularly for administrative interfaces that handle user-supplied data. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts, and maintain regular backup procedures to enable quick recovery from potential compromise scenarios. The specific nature of this vulnerability underscores the need for WordPress plugin developers to follow secure coding practices and conduct thorough security testing before releasing updates to production environments.