CVE-2024-11411 in Spotlightr Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/20/2024
The Spotlightr plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's 'spotlightr-v' shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 0.1.9 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on user supplied attributes. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with contributor-level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/17/2025
The Spotlightr plugin for WordPress presents a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-11411 affecting versions up to and including 0.1.9. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's spotlightr-v shortcode implementation. The flaw allows authenticated attackers possessing contributor-level permissions or higher to inject malicious scripts into WordPress pages, creating a persistent security risk that can affect all users who access these compromised pages. The vulnerability represents a significant concern for WordPress administrators as it leverages the trust relationship between legitimate users and the content management system to execute malicious code.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it firmly within the scope of CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications. The weakness manifests when user-supplied attributes passed to the spotlightr-v shortcode are not properly sanitized before being stored in the WordPress database and subsequently rendered in web pages. This stored XSS condition means that malicious scripts are persisted in the system and executed whenever any user with sufficient privileges accesses the affected pages, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise user sessions and potentially lead to further exploitation. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that contributors and above can exploit it, representing a significant privilege escalation risk.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, deface websites, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious domains. Attackers can craft payloads that exploit the stored XSS to execute JavaScript in the context of the victim's browser, potentially leading to full account compromise or data exfiltration. The vulnerability affects all users who access pages containing the malicious shortcode, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users interact with the same content. This type of vulnerability can also serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold within the WordPress environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-11411 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to the latest available version that addresses the XSS vulnerability. System administrators should implement strict input validation and output escaping mechanisms for all user-supplied data, particularly within shortcode implementations. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting contributor-level access to only necessary functions and monitoring user activities for suspicious shortcode usage. Additionally, implementing content security policies can provide an additional layer of protection against script execution, while regular security audits of WordPress plugins can help identify similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injection attempts, and maintain comprehensive backup systems to quickly restore affected sites if exploitation occurs. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper security testing and input validation in plugin development, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting and T1566.001 for spearphishing attachments as potential attack vectors.