CVE-2024-13363 in Raptive Ads Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/19/2025
The Raptive Ads plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Reflected Cross-Site Scripting via the 'poc' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 3.6.3 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that execute if they can successfully trick a user into performing an action such as clicking on a link.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2025
The CVE-2024-13363 vulnerability affects the Raptive Ads plugin for WordPress, a widely used advertising solution that integrates banner advertisements into WordPress websites. This particular flaw represents a critical security weakness that has been present in all versions up to and including 3.6.3, making it a significant concern for WordPress administrators and security professionals. The vulnerability manifests as a reflected cross-site scripting issue that occurs when the plugin fails to properly sanitize user input through the 'poc' parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code within the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's code structure. When the 'poc' parameter is passed through HTTP requests without proper validation or sanitization, the plugin directly incorporates this input into the HTML response without sufficient escaping or encoding. This allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that will execute when users navigate to affected pages, particularly when the malicious payload is delivered through crafted links or advertisements. The vulnerability specifically falls under CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses that occur when an application includes untrusted data in a new web page without proper validation or escaping, or when it creates a new web page without properly escaping user-controllable data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform various malicious activities within the context of authenticated user sessions. An attacker could potentially redirect users to malicious websites, steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or even deface the affected WordPress sites. The fact that this vulnerability affects unauthenticated attackers means that no prior access or credentials are required to exploit it, significantly increasing the attack surface and potential impact. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where WordPress sites are frequently visited by users who may inadvertently click on malicious links or be exposed to compromised advertisements.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which involves the use of spearphishing attacks to gain initial access to systems. The reflected XSS vulnerability could serve as a delivery mechanism for more sophisticated attacks, potentially allowing attackers to establish persistent access or escalate privileges within the compromised WordPress environment. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader security assessment, particularly in environments where WordPress sites are used for business-critical functions or contain sensitive user data. The remediation process requires immediate attention through plugin updates to versions that properly sanitize input parameters and implement appropriate output escaping mechanisms, while also conducting thorough security audits of other installed plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of proper input validation and output escaping practices in web application development, particularly for plugins and themes that handle user input. WordPress security best practices dictate that all user-supplied data should be treated as potentially malicious and properly sanitized before being incorporated into web page responses. This vulnerability serves as a reminder that even widely-used and seemingly benign plugins can contain critical security flaws that expose entire WordPress installations to various attack vectors, emphasizing the need for continuous security monitoring and timely patch management across all components of WordPress ecosystems.