CVE-2024-11766 in Book Plugin for Displaying Books in Grid, Flip, Slider, Popup Layout and More Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2024
The WordPress Book Plugin for Displaying Books in Grid, Flip, Slider, Popup Layout and more plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's 'gs_book_showcase' shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 1.3.1 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 WordPress Book Plugin presents a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that affects versions through 1.3.1, creating a significant security risk for WordPress installations. This vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's gs_book_showcase shortcode implementation, which processes user-supplied attributes without adequate sanitization measures. The flaw exists in the plugin's handling of input data within the shortcode functionality, where user-provided parameters are not properly validated or escaped before being rendered in web pages. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can inject malicious scripts that persist in the database and execute whenever affected pages are accessed, making it particularly dangerous for content management systems where multiple users contribute content.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's shortcode processing logic. When authenticated users with contributor-level privileges or higher submit content containing malicious scripts through the gs_book_showcase shortcode attributes, the plugin fails to sanitize these inputs properly. This allows attackers to inject JavaScript code that gets stored in the WordPress database and subsequently executed in the browsers of unsuspecting users who visit pages containing the compromised shortcode. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web output, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for malicious HTML injection through web applications. The stored nature of the XSS means that the malicious payload remains persistent until manually removed, amplifying the potential impact of a successful exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, and redirection to malicious sites. Contributors and higher-level users can leverage this vulnerability to compromise the entire WordPress installation by injecting scripts that can steal administrator credentials, modify content, or redirect users to phishing sites. The vulnerability affects all users who access pages containing the compromised shortcode, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where content contributors may not be trusted. This weakness essentially transforms the plugin into a vector for persistent malicious code delivery, potentially allowing attackers to establish long-term access to the WordPress system and compromise the integrity of the entire website.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of the plugin to version 1.3.2 or later, which contains the necessary sanitization and escaping fixes. System administrators should also implement strict input validation policies for all user-contributed content and consider implementing content security policies to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts. Additionally, regular security audits of installed plugins should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities, and user privilege management should be carefully reviewed to limit the scope of potential attacks. Organizations should also deploy web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injections, and implement monitoring systems to detect unusual activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input sanitization and output escaping practices, particularly in plugins that handle user-generated content through shortcode implementations, and underscores the necessity of following security best practices outlined in industry standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines.