CVE-2024-24931 in Before After Image Slider WP Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/12/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in swadeshswain Before After Image Slider WP allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Before After Image Slider WP: from n/a through 2.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2024
The CVE-2024-24931 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Before After Image Slider WP plugin for WordPress, classified under CWE-79 as Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. This vulnerability enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, creating a persistent threat that can compromise user sessions and data integrity. The issue specifically affects versions of the plugin from an unspecified beginning through version 2.2, making it a widespread concern for WordPress site administrators who have not updated their installations.
The technical flaw occurs during the web page generation process where user input containing HTML or JavaScript code is not properly sanitized or escaped before being rendered in the browser. This stored XSS vulnerability allows malicious actors to inject scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers when they view affected pages. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the plugin's handling of user-provided data, particularly in the slider configuration parameters and image descriptions. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious payloads in slider settings or image metadata that persist in the database and execute whenever the affected page is loaded.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, and potential full system compromise if attackers can leverage the stored XSS to target administrators or privileged users. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that once an attacker successfully injects malicious code, it will continue to affect all users who view the affected pages until the malicious content is removed from the database. This vulnerability particularly threatens WordPress sites that rely heavily on user-generated content or administrative configuration of image sliders, as the attack surface expands to include any input field that accepts HTML content or allows for parameter manipulation within the slider functionality.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-24931 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability, as this represents the most effective defense against exploitation. System administrators should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms, ensuring that all user-provided data is properly sanitized before being stored or rendered in web pages. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution, while regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes can help identify similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect potential exploitation attempts, as this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for Initial Access through Spearphishing Attachments and T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter for executing malicious payloads through browser-based attacks.