CVE-2024-12814 in Loan Comparison Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/24/2024
The Loan Comparison plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's 'loancomparison' shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 2.0 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 • 02/16/2025
The Loan Comparison plugin for WordPress presents a critical security vulnerability classified as CVE-2024-12814, affecting all versions up to and including 2.0. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's 'loancomparison' shortcode implementation. The flaw specifically targets user-supplied attributes that are processed through the shortcode system, creating a pathway for malicious code injection that can persist across multiple user interactions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only contributor-level access or higher, making it exploitable by users who already possess significant privileges within the WordPress environment.
The technical implementation of this stored cross-site scripting vulnerability occurs when the plugin processes shortcode attributes without adequate sanitization measures. User-supplied parameters passed to the 'loancomparison' shortcode are directly incorporated into the output without proper escaping or validation, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that gets stored within the WordPress database. When other users access pages containing the compromised shortcode, the injected scripts execute in their browsers, creating a persistent threat that can affect multiple users over time. This stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious code remains active until manually removed from the database entries, unlike reflected XSS attacks that require specific user interactions to trigger.
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 user sessions. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal user credentials, manipulate data, redirect users to malicious sites, or even escalate privileges within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability affects all users who access pages containing the compromised shortcode, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where contributors and higher-level users regularly publish content. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it can be concealed within legitimate-looking content, making detection more difficult for administrators and security monitoring systems.
Security professionals should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest plugin version, which should include proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and follows ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments or links. Organizations should also implement content security policies to limit script execution, regularly audit user-generated content for malicious code, and monitor for unauthorized shortcode usage. Additionally, implementing role-based access controls and limiting contributor privileges to only necessary functions can reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output escaping in web applications, particularly in content management systems where user-generated content is prevalent and security controls must be robust enough to prevent privilege escalation attacks.