CVE-2024-1946 in Genesis Blocks Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/02/2024
The Genesis Blocks plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the block content in all versions up to, and including, 3.1.2 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with contributor 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 • 04/14/2026
The Genesis Blocks plugin for WordPress represents a widely used tool for creating custom content blocks within the WordPress ecosystem, yet it has been identified with a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability designated as CVE-2024-1946. This vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 3.1.2, creating a significant security risk for WordPress installations that rely on this plugin. The flaw stems from inadequate input sanitization mechanisms and insufficient output escaping procedures within the plugin's block content handling system. Security researchers have identified that this vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's ability to process and render user-generated content within WordPress blocks, creating an attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors with relatively low privileges.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a critical weakness in web application security. This weakness occurs when a web application fails to properly validate or escape user input before incorporating it into dynamic web pages. In the case of Genesis Blocks, the vulnerability manifests when authenticated users with contributor-level access or higher submit malicious content through the plugin's block editor interface. The insufficient sanitization allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code into block content, which then gets stored within the WordPress database. When other users access pages containing these malicious blocks, the injected scripts execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or other malicious activities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can affect multiple users within a WordPress installation. Attackers with contributor access can craft malicious blocks that will execute whenever any user views affected pages, making this a particularly dangerous vulnerability for sites with multiple contributors or users who may not be security-conscious. The stored nature of the XSS attack means that the malicious code remains persistent in the system until manually removed, creating a long-term security risk. This vulnerability particularly impacts WordPress sites that rely heavily on user-generated content or collaborative editing environments where multiple users contribute to content creation. The attack vector is facilitated through the plugin's content rendering pipeline, where user-submitted block data bypasses proper security validation mechanisms that should normally prevent malicious code execution.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-1946 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the identified sanitization and escaping flaws. System administrators should implement strict content validation policies and consider implementing additional security measures such as Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of role-based access controls and regular security audits of WordPress plugins, particularly those that handle user-generated content. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and prevent malicious payload delivery, while also establishing monitoring procedures to identify unauthorized content modifications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage the stored XSS to execute malicious scripts in user browsers. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should include evaluation of plugin security configurations, with particular attention to input validation mechanisms and output encoding practices that protect against cross-site scripting attacks.