CVE-2024-1802 in EmbedPress Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/07/2024
The EmbedPress – Embed PDF, Google Docs, Vimeo, Wistia, Embed YouTube Videos, Audios, Maps & Embed Any Documents in Gutenberg & Elementor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's Wistia embed block in all versions up to, and including, 3.9.10 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on the user supplied url. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with contributor-level and above permissions 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 • 04/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-1802 affects the EmbedPress WordPress plugin, specifically targeting its Wistia embed block functionality within the Gutenberg and Elementor page builders. This security flaw represents a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that enables authenticated attackers with contributor-level permissions or higher to inject malicious scripts into web pages. The vulnerability exists in all plugin versions up to and including 3.9.10, making it a widespread concern for WordPress installations that utilize this embedding functionality. The flaw stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms that fail to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied URL parameters before processing them within the plugin's Wistia embedding system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of URL inputs within the Wistia embed block configuration. When an authenticated user with contributor privileges or above creates or modifies a page containing the Wistia embed block, they can inject malicious JavaScript code into the URL field. This code gets stored within the WordPress database and subsequently executed whenever any user accesses the page containing the compromised embed block. The vulnerability is classified as a stored XSS attack under CWE-79, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation. The attack vector leverages the plugin's failure to properly escape and validate user-provided input before rendering it in the browser context, creating an environment where malicious scripts can persist and execute in the victim's browser session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with significant privileges within the affected WordPress environment. Contributors and above typically have the ability to create and edit posts, pages, and media, making this a particularly dangerous flaw for sites with multiple user roles. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once a malicious script is injected, it will execute automatically for any user who accesses the compromised page, including administrators and other privileged users. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be used to escalate privileges, steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions, or redirect users to malicious websites. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which describes social engineering attacks through malicious content injection, potentially allowing for broader exploitation of the WordPress installation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-1802 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability, as this represents the most effective defense against the known flaw. Administrators should implement strict input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the WordPress environment, particularly for user-generated content and plugin configurations. Role-based access control should be enforced to limit the ability of low-privilege users to inject content that could affect other users, though this does not eliminate the vulnerability itself. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual content creation patterns or unauthorized modifications to pages containing embed blocks. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, though these should not be relied upon as the sole mitigation. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities, and automated scanning tools should be employed to detect potential XSS flaws in custom implementations. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and output escaping in web applications, particularly when handling user-supplied data in contexts where it will be rendered in browser environments.