CVE-2024-10568 in Ajax Search Lite Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2024
The Ajax Search Lite WordPress plugin before 4.12.4 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 • 05/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-10568 affects the Ajax Search Lite WordPress plugin version 4.12.3 and earlier, presenting a critical security risk through stored cross-site scripting flaws. This issue specifically targets high-privilege users such as administrators who possess the capability to modify plugin settings, creating a pathway for persistent malicious code execution within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability manifests due to inadequate sanitization and escaping of user-provided input data within the plugin's configuration parameters, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that persistently execute whenever affected pages are loaded.
The technical flaw resides in the plugin's failure to properly validate and escape user input before storing and rendering it within the WordPress admin interface and frontend pages. This oversight creates a stored XSS vulnerability where malicious scripts can be injected into plugin settings and subsequently executed in the context of authenticated admin sessions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited even when the unfiltered_html capability is restricted, which is a common security practice in multisite WordPress installations where administrators want to prevent arbitrary HTML injection while maintaining functionality. This scenario typically occurs when sites implement security hardening measures that limit HTML capabilities for users, yet still permit administrators to modify plugin configurations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to escalate privileges and potentially compromise entire WordPress installations. When an administrator modifies plugin settings containing malicious code, the script becomes permanently stored within the plugin's configuration data, executing every time the affected pages are accessed. This persistent nature allows attackers to maintain access and potentially exfiltrate sensitive data, modify content, or redirect users to malicious sites. The vulnerability affects not just individual sites but can be particularly devastating in multisite environments where a compromised plugin setting could impact multiple sites within the network, making it a vector for widespread compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-10568 primarily involve immediate plugin updates to version 4.12.4 or later, which contain the necessary sanitization and escaping fixes. Security administrators should also implement additional protective measures including regular security audits of plugin configurations, monitoring for unauthorized changes to plugin settings, and maintaining comprehensive backup procedures. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a variant of the broader ATT&CK technique T1059.005 for command and scripting interpreter. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block potential XSS payloads, while ensuring that all administrative users follow strict security protocols for input validation and change management. Regular vulnerability scanning and security assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other plugins and themes that may exhibit similar sanitization deficiencies, as this represents a common pattern in WordPress plugin development where input validation is often overlooked in favor of functionality.