CVE-2024-11906 in TPG Get Posts Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/17/2024
The TPG Get Posts plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's 'tpg_get_posts' shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 3.6.5 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 vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-11906 affects the TPG Get Posts plugin for WordPress, a widely used tool for displaying posts and custom content on WordPress websites. This issue represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of WordPress installations by allowing malicious actors to inject persistent malicious scripts into the platform. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's 'tpg_get_posts' shortcode functionality, which is designed to retrieve and display content from WordPress posts in various formats. The flaw exists in all versions of the plugin up to and including version 3.6.5, making a significant portion of WordPress sites potentially vulnerable to this attack vector. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects authenticated users with contributor-level access or higher, meaning that attackers who have gained access to legitimate user accounts can exploit this weakness to compromise the entire website.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's shortcode implementation. When users with sufficient privileges create or modify posts containing the tpg_get_posts shortcode with malicious attributes, the plugin fails to properly sanitize these inputs before processing them. This insufficient validation allows attackers to inject JavaScript code or other malicious scripts through parameters such as post IDs, categories, or other shortcode attributes. The vulnerability is classified as a stored cross-site scripting flaw because the malicious code is permanently stored within the WordPress database and executes every time a user accesses a page containing the compromised content. The lack of proper output escaping means that even when the content is retrieved for display, the malicious scripts are not neutralized, allowing them to execute in the context of the victim's browser. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) as the failure to properly escape output, and falls under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, demonstrating how attackers can leverage XSS vulnerabilities to execute malicious code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple script injection, creating significant risks for WordPress website owners and their users. Attackers with contributor-level access or higher can craft malicious posts that, when viewed by other users, will execute arbitrary JavaScript code in their browsers. This capability allows for various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, redirection to malicious sites, and data exfiltration. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious code persists even after the initial injection, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over extended periods. Website administrators may not immediately detect the compromise, as the malicious scripts can be embedded within legitimate-looking content, making the attack difficult to trace and remediate. The vulnerability also poses risks to the overall WordPress ecosystem, as compromised sites can become part of botnets or be used as launching points for further attacks against other systems. This type of vulnerability undermines the trust model of WordPress, where users expect that content created by authenticated users will not introduce security risks to other users accessing the site.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-11906 should focus on immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The primary recommendation is to update the TPG Get Posts plugin to version 3.6.6 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input sanitization and output escaping deficiencies. Administrators should also implement immediate access controls, reviewing user permissions and ensuring that only trusted individuals have contributor-level access or higher. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of content creation or modification that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide an additional layer of protection against script execution even if the vulnerability is exploited. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other plugins and themes. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls (WAF) that can detect and block known XSS attack patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security practices, including regular updates, proper access controls, and comprehensive security monitoring to protect against persistent threats in the WordPress ecosystem.