CVE-2024-12506 in NACC Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/20/2024
The NACC WordPress Plugin plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's 'nacc' shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 4.1.0 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 • 02/17/2025
The CVE-2024-12506 vulnerability affects the NACC WordPress Plugin, a widely used tool for managing access control and user permissions within WordPress environments. This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of WordPress sites relying on the plugin for access management. The issue manifests specifically through the plugin's 'nacc' shortcode functionality, which processes user-supplied attributes without adequate sanitization measures. Attackers with contributor-level privileges or higher can exploit this weakness to inject malicious scripts that persist within the plugin's configuration, making it a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that poses significant risks to WordPress installations.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's shortcode implementation. When the 'nacc' shortcode processes attributes provided by users, it fails to properly sanitize or escape potentially malicious input before storing or rendering it within web pages. This vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 as a failure to escape output, allowing attackers to inject script code that executes in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only contributor-level access, which is often granted to trusted users who may not be properly vetted for security awareness, making it an attractive target for insider threats or compromised accounts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with persistent access to execute malicious code within the context of authenticated users' browsers. This capability enables a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the WordPress environment. Attackers can craft malicious shortcodes that, when embedded in posts or pages, will execute upon page load for any user who accesses the affected content. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 4.1.0, meaning that organizations running these plugin versions are potentially exposed to active exploitation, with the risk persisting until the vulnerability is patched or mitigated.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to the latest plugin version where the vulnerability has been addressed, applying the vendor's security patch as soon as it becomes available, and implementing additional security measures such as restricting contributor-level access to only essential users. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual shortcode usage patterns, and security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of all active plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1548.005 for abuse of credentials and T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, highlighting the potential for attackers to escalate privileges and establish persistent access through this vector. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output escaping practices in accordance with OWASP security guidelines would prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future, emphasizing the importance of secure coding practices in plugin development.