CVE-2024-13743 in Wonder Video Embed Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/19/2025
The Wonder Video Embed plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's wonderplugin_video shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 2.2 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 • 02/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-13743 affects the Wonder Video Embed plugin for WordPress, representing a critical security flaw that enables stored cross-site scripting attacks. This issue exists within all versions up to and including 2.2 of the plugin, making it a widespread concern for WordPress users who rely on this video embedding solution. The vulnerability specifically targets the wonderplugin_video shortcode functionality, which serves as the primary attack vector for malicious actors seeking to exploit this weakness in the WordPress ecosystem.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and insufficient output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase. When users with contributor-level access or higher submit content through the plugin's shortcode functionality, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize the input parameters before storing them in the database. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that gets stored persistently within the WordPress installation. The lack of proper output escaping means that when these stored scripts are rendered on web pages, they execute in the context of other users who visit those pages, creating a classic stored XSS scenario.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for WordPress administrators and content creators who use the Wonder Video Embed plugin. Attackers with contributor privileges or higher can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary code on victim systems, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further compromise of the WordPress installation. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate users of the plugin but also visitors to websites who may encounter the malicious content while browsing pages containing the injected scripts. This makes the attack surface particularly broad as any user who accesses a page with the stored malicious content becomes a potential victim.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications. The issue also maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1566.001 for Phishing and T1071.001 for Application Layer Protocol. The attack chain typically involves an authenticated user with contributor privileges or higher, which demonstrates a privilege escalation concern within the WordPress access control model. Organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls, regular security audits, and comprehensive monitoring of user activities within WordPress installations to detect potential exploitation attempts.
The recommended mitigation strategies include immediate patching of the Wonder Video Embed plugin to version 2.3 or later, which addresses the input sanitization and output escaping deficiencies. WordPress administrators should also implement strict role-based access controls, regularly audit user permissions, and consider deploying security plugins that can detect and prevent XSS attacks. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their WordPress installations, particularly focusing on third-party plugins that may introduce vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the updated plugin to ensure that the fix does not introduce compatibility issues with existing website functionality.