CVE-2024-11427 in Catch Popup Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2024
The Catch Popup plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's 'catch-popup' shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 1.4.4 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 • 02/18/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-11427 affects the Catch Popup plugin for WordPress, representing a critical security flaw that enables stored cross-site scripting attacks. This issue exists in all versions up to and including 1.4.4, making it a widespread concern for WordPress administrators and security professionals. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's 'catch-popup' shortcode implementation, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited by authenticated attackers with contributor-level privileges or higher.
The technical flaw manifests through the plugin's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied attributes within the catch-popup shortcode functionality. When administrators or contributors create popup content using this shortcode, the plugin does not adequately validate or escape the input data before storing it in the WordPress database. This stored data is then subsequently rendered on web pages without proper output escaping, creating an environment where malicious scripts can persist and execute whenever users access pages containing the compromised popup content. The vulnerability operates as a stored XSS attack because the malicious payload is saved in the database rather than being reflected in the HTTP request, making it more persistent and dangerous.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to manipulate user sessions, steal sensitive information, and potentially escalate privileges within the WordPress environment. Attackers with contributor-level access can inject malicious JavaScript code that executes whenever any user visits pages containing the compromised popup, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or further exploitation of the WordPress installation. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where contributors may have access to sensitive content or administrative functions. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that even after the initial injection, the malicious code continues to execute for all users who encounter the compromised content, creating a long-term security risk that can compound over time.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-11427 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the sanitization and escaping deficiencies. System administrators should also implement additional security measures such as role-based access controls to limit contributor privileges, regular security audits of plugin functionality, and monitoring for suspicious shortcode usage patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege as defined in cybersecurity best practices. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies and regular vulnerability scanning to detect similar issues in other plugins or themes that may be susceptible to similar input validation weaknesses. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as the malicious scripts can execute system commands or manipulate user sessions.