CVE-2024-24712 in Heateor Social Login Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/10/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Team Heateor Heateor Social Login WordPress allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Heateor Social Login WordPress: from n/a through 1.1.30.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/25/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability exists within the Team Heateor Heateor Social Login WordPress plugin, specifically in how it processes and renders user input during web page generation. The issue manifests as a stored XSS vulnerability, meaning that malicious payloads can be permanently stored on the server and subsequently executed whenever affected pages are accessed by other users. This particular weakness falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security flaw that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the plugin fails to properly sanitize or escape user-provided input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. Attackers can leverage this weakness by submitting malicious input through the plugin's social login functionality or associated user interface elements. When the vulnerable plugin processes this input and displays it on web pages without adequate input validation or output encoding, the malicious scripts become permanently stored within the application's data storage. This stored content is then executed in the context of other users' browsers, potentially allowing attackers to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of victims.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack vectors including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious sites. Attackers can craft payloads that exploit the stored XSS to access user accounts, extract cookies, or modify website content. The vulnerability affects all versions of the Heateor Social Login plugin from the initial release through version 1.1.30, indicating a prolonged period during which the security flaw existed without proper mitigation. This exposure window increases the likelihood of successful exploitation and makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations running affected WordPress installations. The stored nature of this XSS means that even users who do not actively interact with the vulnerable plugin can be affected, as the malicious content is automatically executed when pages are rendered.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to the latest version of the Heateor Social Login plugin where this vulnerability has been patched. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms can provide defense-in-depth measures against similar vulnerabilities. Security practitioners should also consider deploying web application firewalls and content security policies to mitigate potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious file execution and T1071.001 for application layer protocol usage. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in other WordPress plugins and themes, as the interconnected nature of web applications means that vulnerabilities in one component can compromise entire systems.