CVE-2024-1273 in Starbox Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/11/2024
The Starbox WordPress plugin before 3.5.0 does not sanitise and escape some parameters, which could allow users with a role as low as Contributor to perform Cross-Site Scripting attacks
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2025
The Starbox WordPress plugin vulnerability CVE-2024-1273 represents a critical security flaw in versions prior to 3.5.0 that exposes WordPress sites to cross-site scripting attacks through inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. This vulnerability specifically affects the plugin's handling of user-supplied parameters, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The flaw is particularly concerning because it can be exploited by users with relatively low privileges, including those holding the Contributor role within WordPress, which typically has limited capabilities and should not be able to execute such attacks. The vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize and escape parameters before they are processed and rendered in web responses, creating an environment where attacker-controlled data can be executed as script code within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where software does not properly neutralize user-controllable input data before it is used in the web application's output. In the context of the Starbox plugin, this manifests when contributor-level users can manipulate parameters through the plugin's interface or API endpoints without proper validation. The vulnerability occurs because the plugin fails to implement proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms that are fundamental to preventing XSS attacks. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious payloads in parameters that are then stored or processed by the plugin and subsequently rendered in web pages without proper sanitization. The impact extends beyond simple script injection as it can enable session hijacking, credential theft, and other advanced persistent threats that leverage the trust relationship between the vulnerable plugin and its users.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-1273 is significant for WordPress administrators and site owners who rely on the Starbox plugin for their content management needs. Since the vulnerability can be exploited by users with Contributor roles, it creates an unexpected attack surface where individuals who should have minimal privileges can potentially compromise the entire site's security. This represents a privilege escalation vulnerability that undermines the principle of least privilege, as the Contributor role should not have access to functions that could result in code execution on other users' browsers. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including direct parameter manipulation, form submissions, or even through the plugin's admin interface where contributors might have access to certain features. Organizations using affected versions of the plugin face potential data breaches, user session compromise, and reputational damage if attackers successfully exploit this vulnerability to inject malicious scripts that can harvest cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-1273 should prioritize immediate patching to version 3.5.0 or later where the sanitization and escaping issues have been addressed. System administrators should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the affected plugin and ensure all users have been upgraded to secure versions. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms should be enforced at multiple layers including web application firewalls, server-side validation, and database input sanitization. The remediation process should include monitoring for suspicious activities and user behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policies that can provide additional protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and command execution, with the exploitation potentially leading to further compromise through techniques like credential access and persistence mechanisms that attackers might establish using the injected scripts. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins and themes that may not properly implement security best practices for input validation and output encoding.