CVE-2024-2933 in Page Builder Gutenberg Blocks Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/01/2024
The Page Builder Gutenberg Blocks – CoBlocks plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the Social Profiles widget in all versions up to, and including, 3.1.9 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on user supplied attributes. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with contributor-level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-2933 affects the Page Builder Gutenberg Blocks – CoBlocks plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting the Social Profiles widget functionality. This issue represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of WordPress sites relying on this popular plugin. The vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 3.1.9, making it a widespread concern for WordPress administrators and security professionals who have not yet updated their installations. The CoBlocks plugin serves as a widely-used tool for creating custom page layouts and widgets within the WordPress Gutenberg editor, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through the standard content creation workflow that many users rely on for their website management.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the Social Profiles widget implementation. When authenticated users with contributor-level access or higher submit data through the widget's attributes, the plugin fails to properly validate or sanitize the input before storing it in the database. This lack of proper sanitization creates an environment where malicious scripts can be persisted in the system. The vulnerability manifests as stored cross-site scripting because the malicious code is not only accepted but also stored in the database, making it persistent across multiple user sessions. The output escaping mechanism that should prevent the execution of malicious code when rendering pages is either missing or inadequate, allowing attackers to inject JavaScript payloads that execute whenever any user accesses pages containing the compromised widget.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple script execution, as it creates a persistent backdoor for attackers within WordPress installations. Any user with contributor privileges or higher can exploit this vulnerability, which means that attackers who have gained access to these accounts can inject malicious code that executes automatically whenever any user visits pages containing the compromised widget. This creates a significant risk for WordPress sites where contributor-level access might be granted to multiple users, including third-party content creators, editors, or even compromised accounts. The stored nature of the XSS vulnerability means that the malicious code remains active even after the initial injection, potentially allowing attackers to perform actions such as stealing user sessions, redirecting visitors to malicious sites, or even exfiltrating sensitive data from the WordPress installation. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that the Social Profiles widget is commonly used across various website types, from corporate sites to personal blogs, making it a prime target for exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-2933 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the sanitization and escaping issues. WordPress administrators should ensure that all users with contributor-level access or higher are properly vetted and that access controls are maintained through strong authentication practices. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1548.001 for privilege escalation through the exploitation of user-level access. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring of user activities and content modifications, particularly around widget and block configurations, as well as conduct thorough security audits of all installed plugins. Regular security scanning and automated vulnerability assessments should be implemented to identify similar issues in other plugins or themes. Additionally, implementing content security policies and regular security training for users with elevated privileges can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output escaping in web applications, particularly in content management systems where user-generated content is processed and stored.