CVE-2024-1497 in Orbit Fox Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/13/2024
The Orbit Fox by ThemeIsle plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the form widget addr2_width attribute in all versions up to, and including, 2.10.30 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with contributor access or higher, 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 • 04/15/2025
The Orbit Fox plugin by ThemeIsle represents a popular WordPress toolkit that provides various widgets and features for website customization. This particular vulnerability affects versions up to and including 21030, creating a significant security risk within WordPress environments that utilize this plugin. The flaw exists within the form widget functionality, specifically targeting the addr2_width attribute parameter. Security researchers have identified that this vulnerability enables authenticated attackers with contributor-level privileges or higher to execute malicious code through stored cross-site scripting techniques. The issue stems from inadequate input sanitization and insufficient output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise user sessions and potentially lead to further system exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of user-supplied input within the form widget component of the Orbit Fox plugin. When an attacker with contributor access or higher modifies the addr2_width attribute through the plugin's interface, the input validation processes fail to properly sanitize the data before storing it within the WordPress database. This stored malicious input then gets rendered on subsequent page loads without adequate output escaping, allowing JavaScript code to execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically targets the addr2_width attribute, which likely controls width measurements for address form elements, but the sanitization failure affects the entire attribute processing pipeline. This represents a classic stored XSS vulnerability pattern that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist in the database and execute whenever affected pages are accessed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, creating potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks within compromised WordPress installations. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal user session cookies, redirect victims to malicious websites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The contributor-level access requirement means that even relatively low-privilege users within a WordPress environment can potentially exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly concerning for sites with multiple contributors or users with elevated permissions. The stored nature of the attack means that the malicious code persists even after the initial injection, creating a long-term threat vector that can affect multiple users over time. This vulnerability undermines the integrity of the WordPress content management system and can lead to complete compromise of user accounts and site data.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately update to the latest version of the Orbit Fox plugin where the XSS flaw has been patched. System administrators should conduct thorough security audits of their WordPress installations to identify any potential exploitation attempts or malicious code injections that may have occurred prior to patching. The recommended mitigation strategy includes implementing proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms throughout the plugin's codebase, with specific attention to all form handling components. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious activity related to form submissions and widget modifications. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566 for initial access through malicious content. Regular security assessments and patch management procedures should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from arising in the future, with particular emphasis on input sanitization and output escaping practices within all WordPress plugins and themes.