CVE-2024-25093 in GD Rating System Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/29/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Milan Petrovic GD Rating System allows Stored XSS.This issue affects GD Rating System: from n/a through 3.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2025
The CVE-2024-25093 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the GD Rating System plugin developed by Milan Petrovic. This stored XSS vulnerability occurs during the web page generation process when user input is improperly neutralized before being rendered in web pages. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions of the GD Rating System plugin ranging from an unknown initial version through version 3.5, making it a widespread concern for WordPress users who have installed this rating system component.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied data within the plugin's input handling mechanisms. When users submit ratings, comments, or other interactive content through the GD Rating System, the plugin fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This omission creates a persistent security hole where malicious actors can inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability is classified as stored XSS because the malicious code is permanently stored on the server and subsequently served to other users who access the affected pages, rather than being limited to a single request.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for WordPress websites utilizing the GD Rating System plugin. Attackers can exploit this weakness to steal user session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of logged-in users, redirect victims to malicious websites, or even deface the affected web pages. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload persists even after the initial injection, potentially affecting multiple users over extended periods. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous for websites that rely heavily on user-generated content or community ratings, as the malicious scripts could be embedded within rating submissions or comment sections that are frequently viewed by other users.
Organizations and website administrators should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability by updating to the latest version of the GD Rating System plugin where the XSS flaw has been addressed. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms can serve as effective mitigations. According to CWE guidelines, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, while the ATT&CK framework would categorize this under T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious script patterns in user submissions, and network-based intrusion detection systems should be configured to identify potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. The remediation process should also involve reviewing existing user content for potential malicious scripts that may have been injected prior to the patch installation, as the stored nature of the vulnerability means that historical malicious payloads could already be present in the system.