CVE-2024-11899 in Slider Pro Lite Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/07/2025
The Slider Pro Lite plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's 'sliderpro' shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 1.4.1 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.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2025
The Slider Pro Lite plugin for WordPress presents a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that affects all versions up to and including 1.4.1. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's 'sliderpro' shortcode implementation. The flaw specifically targets user-supplied attributes that are processed through the shortcode system, creating an attack vector where malicious code can be persistently stored within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only contributor-level access or higher, making it accessible to users who should normally have restricted capabilities within the WordPress administration interface.
The technical execution of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of shortcode attributes that are not properly sanitized before being stored in the database. When an authenticated attacker with contributor privileges or above creates or modifies content containing the vulnerable shortcode with malicious attributes, the plugin fails to adequately escape or validate the input parameters. This allows JavaScript code to be injected and stored as part of the shortcode configuration, which then executes whenever any user accesses pages containing the affected shortcode. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious payload persists even after the initial injection, making it particularly dangerous for long-term exploitation and affecting all users who view pages containing the compromised content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to perform various malicious activities through the compromised WordPress environment. An attacker could potentially steal user session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, deface content, or even escalate privileges within the WordPress installation. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the plugin's shortcode system, which is commonly used throughout WordPress sites for creating dynamic slider content, making the attack surface particularly broad. This weakness creates a persistent threat that can affect multiple users across different roles within the WordPress system, from contributors to administrators, depending on which pages contain the vulnerable shortcode.
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 sanitize user inputs before including them in web pages. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001: Phishing with Social Engineering, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads through legitimate-looking content. Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to the latest plugin version, implementing strict input validation, and monitoring for unauthorized content modifications. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of principle of least privilege in WordPress environments, as limiting contributor access to only essential functions can reduce the potential impact of such attacks. Additionally, regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins and themes within the WordPress ecosystem.