CVE-2024-10555 in MaxButtons Button Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/20/2024
The WordPress Button Plugin MaxButtons WordPress plugin before 9.8.1 does not sanitise and escape some of its settings, 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 • 05/15/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-10555 affects the MaxButtons WordPress plugin version 9.8.1 and earlier, presenting a critical security risk through stored cross-site scripting flaws. This issue specifically targets the plugin's handling of user settings without proper sanitization and escaping mechanisms, creating an avenue for attackers to inject malicious scripts into the WordPress environment. The flaw is particularly concerning because it allows high-privilege users such as administrators to execute XSS attacks even in environments where the unfiltered_html capability has been restricted, which is a common security measure in multisite WordPress installations. The vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to adequately validate and sanitize input data before storing it in the database, creating a persistent XSS vector that can affect all users who view the affected content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the plugin's settings handling code where user-provided data is stored without proper security measures. When administrators configure button settings through the plugin's interface, the input values are not sufficiently sanitized before being saved to the WordPress database. This creates a stored XSS condition where malicious scripts can be embedded within the plugin's configuration parameters and subsequently executed whenever the affected page is loaded. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to sanitize user input before incorporating it into web pages. The attack vector becomes particularly dangerous in multisite environments where administrators may have elevated privileges but are still restricted from using unfiltered_html capabilities, making this vulnerability exploitable even in hardened security configurations.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-10555 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities through compromised administrator sessions. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to steal administrator cookies, perform actions on behalf of the admin user, access sensitive data, or even modify plugin configurations to maintain persistent access. In multisite environments, this vulnerability becomes even more dangerous as it could potentially affect multiple sites within the network, especially if the same plugin version is deployed across different sites. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious scripts remain active until manually removed from the plugin settings, creating a long-term security risk that could be exploited by attackers over extended periods. This type of vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as the malicious scripts could be used to redirect users to malicious sites or harvest credentials through crafted button configurations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate plugin updates to version 9.8.1 or later, which contains the necessary sanitization and escaping fixes. Administrators should also implement additional security measures such as regular monitoring of plugin settings for suspicious modifications, implementing strict input validation policies, and ensuring that only trusted users have access to plugin configuration interfaces. The WordPress security team recommends that administrators review their multisite configurations to ensure that appropriate capability restrictions are in place and that proper security auditing is conducted on all plugin installations. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls or content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against XSS attacks, particularly in environments where plugin vulnerabilities may not be immediately patched. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and output escaping practices in web applications, emphasizing that security should be implemented at multiple layers to protect against sophisticated attack vectors.