CVE-2024-24804 in MW WP Form Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/10/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in websoudan MW WP Form allows Stored XSS.This issue affects MW WP Form: from n/a through 5.0.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the websoudan MW WP Form plugin for WordPress, specifically categorized under CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. The vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist in the application's database and execute whenever affected pages are loaded, creating a stored XSS attack vector that can compromise user sessions and data integrity. The issue affects all versions from the initial release through version 5.0.6, indicating a long-standing flaw that has not been adequately addressed in the plugin's input sanitization mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and sanitization of user-provided data during the form processing and storage phases. When users submit data through MW WP Form, the plugin fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This allows malicious actors to embed script tags or other malicious payloads within form fields that are then stored in the WordPress database. When these stored values are later rendered on web pages, the embedded scripts execute in the context of other users' browsers, potentially stealing cookies, session tokens, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of victims.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to establish persistent footholds within affected WordPress environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal administrator credentials, modify website content, redirect users to malicious sites, or harvest sensitive data from authenticated users. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious code remains active until manually removed from the database, creating a long-term security risk for all users who access the affected pages. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as attackers can craft malicious forms to deliver payloads that compromise user systems.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the MW WP Form plugin to the latest version where the XSS vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before storage and rendering. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting form submission capabilities to trusted users only, while also implementing Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities, and administrators should monitor database entries for suspicious script content. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and security monitoring solutions can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts while maintaining visibility into potential attack vectors targeting the affected plugin.