CVE-2024-11751 in Popover Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/14/2024
The TCBD Popover plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's 'tcbd-popover-image ' shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 1.2 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 TCBD Popover plugin for WordPress presents a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-11751, affecting all versions through 1.2. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's tcbd-popover-image shortcode implementation. The flaw specifically targets user-supplied attributes that are processed through the shortcode system, creating a persistent vector for malicious code injection that can affect any user who accesses pages containing the compromised content. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by its accessibility to authenticated attackers holding contributor-level privileges or higher, which represents a significant compromise given that contributors typically have the ability to create and edit posts and pages within WordPress environments.
The technical execution of this vulnerability occurs through the improper handling of user input within the plugin's shortcode processing logic. When administrators or privileged users create content using the tcbd-popover-image shortcode, the plugin fails to adequately sanitize or escape attribute values provided by users, allowing malicious scripts to be stored within the WordPress database. These stored scripts then execute in the context of other users' browsers whenever they view pages containing the compromised shortcode, creating a classic stored XSS attack vector. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can be leveraged to perform session hijacking, defacement of content, or redirection to malicious sites, all while remaining undetected by standard security monitoring systems.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for WordPress installations utilizing the TCBD Popover plugin, particularly in environments where multiple users have contributor or administrator access levels. The attack surface is broad as any user with contributor privileges or higher can potentially exploit this vulnerability, making it a particularly dangerous flaw in shared hosting environments or multi-user WordPress installations. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, malicious payloads persist indefinitely until manually removed, creating ongoing security risks that can affect all users who access affected pages. This persistent threat makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for sites with high user turnover or those that rely on user-generated content submission processes.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of the TCBD Popover plugin once available, which should contain proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing additional security measures such as restricting contributor privileges to limit potential attack vectors, implementing content security policies to prevent script execution, and conducting thorough security audits of all installed plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a clear violation of ATT&CK technique T1546.001 which involves the execution of malicious code through the modification of system processes or application components. Given the plugin's widespread use in WordPress environments, this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the potential for seemingly minor flaws to create significant security risks across entire ecosystems.