CVE-2024-1905 in Smart Forms Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/29/2024
The Smart Forms WordPress plugin before 2.6.96 does not sanitise and escape some of its settings, which could allow high privilege users such as admin to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks even when the unfiltered_html capability is disallowed (for example in multisite setup)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-1905 affects the Smart Forms WordPress plugin version 2.6.95 and earlier, representing a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw that undermines web application security. This vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's handling of user settings and configuration data, where insufficient sanitization and escaping mechanisms leave the system exposed to malicious script injection attacks. The flaw is particularly concerning because it affects high-privilege users including administrators who possess the capability to manipulate plugin settings, making it a significant threat vector in WordPress environments where security is paramount.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly validate and sanitize user inputs within its settings management system. When administrators configure plugin parameters or modify form settings, the data is not adequately processed through security filters before being stored in the database. This allows malicious scripts to be persisted within the application's configuration, which then execute whenever the settings are rendered or accessed by other users. The vulnerability's impact is amplified in multisite WordPress installations where the unfiltered_html capability is typically restricted to prevent XSS attacks, yet the flaw allows bypassing these protective measures through the plugin's insecure data handling practices. This represents a direct violation of secure coding principles and demonstrates a failure in input validation and output escaping mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple user sessions and interactions within the WordPress environment. Attackers with administrative privileges can inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further compromise of the WordPress installation. The stored nature of the XSS attack means that the malicious payload remains active until manually removed from the plugin's settings, creating an ongoing security risk that can affect numerous users over extended periods. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a common web application security flaw, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage the XSS to execute malicious code within user browsers.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2024-1905 requires immediate action to upgrade the Smart Forms plugin to version 2.6.96 or later, which contains the necessary security patches to address the sanitization and escaping deficiencies. Administrators should also implement additional security measures including regular monitoring of plugin updates, implementing strict input validation policies, and conducting security audits of all installed plugins. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input sanitization and output escaping as fundamental security practices, particularly in web applications where user-generated content and configuration data are processed and stored within the system's database structure.