CVE-2024-32079 in Advanced iFrame Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/15/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Michael Dempfle Advanced iFrame allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Advanced iFrame: from n/a through 2024.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Advanced iFrame WordPress plugin developed by Michael Dempfle. The issue manifests as improper neutralization of input during web page generation, creating a persistent stored XSS attack vector that can compromise user sessions and execute malicious code within the context of affected websites. The vulnerability affects all versions of the plugin up to and including version 2024.2, making it a significant concern for WordPress site administrators who have not yet updated their installations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the plugin's iframe generation functionality. When users input data into forms or fields that are subsequently processed and displayed within iframe content, the plugin fails to properly escape or encode special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist in the database and execute whenever affected pages are loaded, making it a stored XSS vulnerability rather than a reflected one. The flaw operates at the application layer where user-supplied data is rendered without adequate security measures to prevent code injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to administrative panels, modify content, redirect users to malicious sites, or even install backdoors on compromised WordPress installations. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that the attack remains active until the vulnerable plugin is updated or the malicious content is manually removed from the database, creating a long-term security risk for affected sites.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the identified XSS vulnerability, following the vendor's security advisory and release notes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms at multiple layers of their web applications, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being processed or rendered. Security practitioners should also consider implementing content security policies to limit script execution and monitor for suspicious activity within their WordPress installations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a technique that could be mapped to ATT&CK tactic TA0001 (Initial Access) through the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other plugins and themes, as this type of flaw commonly affects web applications with insufficient input validation mechanisms.