CVE-2024-29765 in Aparat for WordPress Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/27/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Alireza Sedghi Aparat for WordPress allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Aparat for WordPress: from n/a through 2.2.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Aparat for WordPress plugin that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting and specifically manifests as a stored XSS attack vector where malicious code persists in the application's database and executes whenever affected pages are rendered. The issue affects all versions of the plugin from the initial release through version 2.2.0, indicating a long-standing security gap that has not been properly addressed. The vulnerability occurs during the web page generation process when user input is inadequately sanitized before being incorporated into dynamic web content, creating an environment where attackers can manipulate the plugin's output to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to submit malicious input through the plugin's interface, which is then stored in the WordPress database and subsequently executed when other users view pages containing the compromised content. This stored nature of the attack means that the malicious payload can affect multiple users over time without requiring repeated exploitation attempts. The flaw likely occurs in the plugin's handling of user-generated content or configuration parameters that are directly embedded into HTML output without proper encoding or sanitization. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious websites, or even execute more sophisticated attacks such as credential harvesting or browser fingerprinting. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data theft as it can enable complete compromise of user sessions and potentially provide attackers with elevated privileges within the WordPress environment.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WordPress sites using the Aparat for WordPress plugin, particularly those with multiple users or administrative access. The stored nature of the XSS attack means that once an attacker successfully injects malicious code, it will affect all users who view the compromised pages until the malicious content is removed from the database. The vulnerability affects not only end users but also administrators who may be tricked into viewing compromised content, potentially leading to privilege escalation or complete system compromise. Organizations relying on this plugin for video content management face elevated risk of data breaches, user account takeovers, and potential reputational damage. The vulnerability's presence in versions through 2.2.0 suggests that many installations may be exposed, as the plugin may not have received regular security updates or the developers may not have recognized the severity of the issue. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious content and can support subsequent techniques like credential access and privilege escalation.
The recommended mitigation strategies include immediate patching or upgrading to a version that addresses the XSS vulnerability, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, and conducting thorough security reviews of all user-facing input handling within the plugin. Administrators should also consider implementing content security policies to limit the impact of potential XSS attacks, and perform regular security assessments of WordPress plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices, which are fundamental requirements in the OWASP Top Ten security framework. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while maintaining regular monitoring for signs of compromise in their WordPress installations. The issue underscores the critical need for developers to follow secure coding practices and for administrators to maintain updated security postures across all components of their WordPress environments.