CVE-2024-11433 in Surbma Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2024
The Surbma | SalesAutopilot Shortcode plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's 'sa-form' shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 2.0 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 CVE-2024-11433 vulnerability affects the Surbma | SalesAutopilot Shortcode plugin for WordPress, representing a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw that compromises the security of WordPress installations. This vulnerability exists within the plugin's 'sa-form' shortcode functionality and impacts all versions up to and including 2.0, making it a persistent threat across multiple plugin releases. The flaw stems from inadequate input sanitization and insufficient output escaping mechanisms that fail to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied attributes before processing them within the shortcode implementation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of shortcode attributes that are processed by the plugin's backend code. When authenticated attackers with contributor-level access or higher submit malicious input through the sa-form shortcode parameters, the plugin fails to adequately sanitize this input before storing or rendering it within WordPress pages. This insufficient sanitization creates a persistent XSS vector where malicious scripts can be stored in the WordPress database and subsequently executed whenever any user accesses pages containing the compromised shortcode. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's handling of user-supplied attributes, which are directly incorporated into rendered HTML output without proper escaping mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to perform various malicious activities through compromised WordPress installations. Authenticated attackers can inject persistent scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers, potentially enabling session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the compromised WordPress environment. The vulnerability affects all users who access pages containing the malicious shortcode, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where contributors and higher-level users may inadvertently encounter the malicious content. This stored XSS vulnerability allows attackers to maintain persistent access to compromised systems and can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks such as credential harvesting or privilege escalation within the WordPress environment.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a classic example of CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly escape output in web applications. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.002 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as it enables attackers to deliver malicious payloads through compromised WordPress content that users may encounter during normal browsing activities. The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate plugin updates to versions that address the input sanitization and output escaping deficiencies, while administrators should also implement additional security measures such as role-based access controls and regular security audits. Organizations should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers and monitoring for suspicious shortcode usage patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of proper input validation and output escaping in web applications, particularly within content management systems where user-generated content processing is common.