CVE-2024-29138 in Restrict User Access Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/19/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Joachim Jensen Restrict User Access – Membership Plugin with Force restrict-user-access.This issue affects Restrict User Access – Membership Plugin with Force: from n/a through <= 2.5.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2026
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists within the Restrict User Access membership plugin for WordPress, specifically impacting versions up to and including 2.5. The flaw stems from inadequate input sanitization during web page generation processes, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary script code into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability represents a classic XSS attack vector that allows threat actors to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser session, potentially compromising user authentication tokens and sensitive data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the plugin processes user input without proper validation or encoding mechanisms before rendering content on web pages. This failure to neutralize input during web page generation creates an environment where attacker-controlled data can be interpreted as executable code rather than plain text. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a well-documented and dangerous class of web application security flaw. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input that gets stored or reflected in the plugin's output, subsequently executing in the browsers of other users who access the affected pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious sites. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to user sessions, potentially escalating privileges or accessing restricted content that the plugin is designed to protect. The plugin's functionality as a membership restriction tool makes this particularly dangerous since it could allow unauthorized access to protected areas of a website. The vulnerability affects the entire user base of the plugin, creating a widespread security risk for all websites using affected versions.
Mitigation strategies should begin with immediate upgrade to the latest plugin version where this vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar issues in the future. Security measures including content security policies, proper sanitization of user inputs, and regular security audits of third-party plugins should be implemented. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, highlighting the need for defensive measures that prevent script execution in web browsers. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and regular security monitoring can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider the principle of least privilege when configuring plugin settings and regularly review access controls to minimize potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.