CVE-2024-2436 in Lightweight Accordion Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/10/2024
The Lightweight Accordion plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's shortcode(s) in all versions up to, and including, 1.5.16 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on user supplied attributes. 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 • 04/13/2025
The Lightweight Accordion plugin for WordPress represents a widely used component for creating interactive accordion interfaces on websites, yet it has been identified with a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that affects all versions up to and including 1.5.16. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's shortcode implementation, creating a persistent security flaw that can be exploited by malicious actors with relatively low privileges. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's handling of user-supplied attributes within its shortcode functionality, where insufficient validation allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that will execute whenever affected pages are accessed by unsuspecting users.
The technical flaw manifests through the plugin's failure to properly sanitize and escape user input when processing shortcode attributes, creating a stored XSS vector that persists in the database rather than being limited to reflected attacks. Attackers with contributor-level permissions or higher can leverage this vulnerability by crafting malicious shortcode parameters that contain embedded JavaScript code, which gets stored in the WordPress database and subsequently executed in the context of other users' browsers. This stored nature of the vulnerability means that once injected, the malicious scripts will execute automatically whenever any user accesses pages containing the compromised accordion elements, making the attack particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users without requiring repeated exploitation attempts. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, specifically in the context of web application security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates a persistent backdoor for attackers to compromise user sessions, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious websites. The attack requires minimal privileges, making it particularly concerning for WordPress installations where contributors may have elevated access rights, such as in multi-user environments where content creators might be granted contributor roles. The vulnerability affects any WordPress site using the Lightweight Accordion plugin, potentially exposing thousands of websites to automated exploitation attempts. Attackers can use this vulnerability to harvest user cookies, session tokens, or other sensitive data that users might have in their browsers, effectively enabling session hijacking or privilege escalation attacks. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that even after initial exploitation, the malicious code continues to execute for all users accessing affected pages, creating a long-term security risk that can be difficult to detect and remediate.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention from WordPress site administrators, beginning with the immediate upgrade of the Lightweight Accordion plugin to the latest version that addresses this security flaw. The recommended approach includes implementing proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms that conform to industry standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and the Web Application Security Consortium guidelines. Site administrators should also consider implementing additional security measures such as content security policies to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts, and regular monitoring of plugin files and database content for signs of compromise. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing robust security practices that align with the ATT&CK framework's emphasis on maintaining defenses against persistent threats through proper input validation and output sanitization techniques. Organizations should also establish automated patch management processes to ensure timely remediation of known vulnerabilities and reduce the window of exposure for such security flaws.