CVE-2024-22150 in Portfolio & Image Gallery Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/31/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in PWR Plugins Portfolio & Image Gallery for WordPress | PowerFolio allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Portfolio & Image Gallery for WordPress | PowerFolio: from n/a through 3.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw classified as CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation which impacts the PWR Plugins Portfolio & Image Gallery for WordPress plugin known as PowerFolio. The vulnerability enables stored XSS attacks where malicious scripts can be injected into the plugin's web pages and persistently executed against unsuspecting users who view the affected content. The issue exists within the plugin's handling of user input during web page generation processes, specifically in how it processes and renders data submitted through the portfolio and image gallery functionalities.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input through the plugin's interface and stores it within the application's database or storage mechanisms. When other users access pages that display this stored content, their browsers execute the malicious scripts contained within the input. This stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious code persists even after the initial injection, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over extended periods. The vulnerability affects all versions of the plugin from the initial release through version 3.1, indicating a long-standing flaw that has not been properly addressed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious websites. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to user accounts, manipulate displayed content, and potentially escalate privileges within the WordPress environment. The attack vector typically involves an authenticated user with sufficient permissions to submit content through the plugin's interface, making it particularly concerning for sites with multiple contributors or administrators who may not be fully aware of the security implications.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the affected plugin to version 3.2 or later where the XSS flaws have been properly addressed through proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Administrators should implement comprehensive input validation that filters and escapes all user-provided content before storage and rendering. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection layers against script execution. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities, with particular attention to plugins that handle user-generated content. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious input patterns. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious content and T1059.001 for command and control through script injection, making it a significant concern for enterprise security posture and compliance requirements.