CVE-2024-3244 in EmbedPress Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/10/2024
The EmbedPress – Embed PDF, Google Docs, Vimeo, Wistia, Embed YouTube Videos, Audios, Maps & Embed Any Documents in Gutenberg & Elementor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's 'embedpress_calendar' shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 3.9.14 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 • 04/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-3244 affects the EmbedPress plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting the 'embedpress_calendar' shortcode functionality. This issue represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of WordPress installations using the affected plugin version 3.9.14 and earlier. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, which fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing and rendering it within web pages. The flaw allows authenticated attackers with contributor-level privileges or higher to execute malicious scripts through carefully crafted input parameters that are then stored within the WordPress database.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) conditions where insufficient sanitization of user-provided input leads to execution of malicious scripts in the context of the victim's browser. The affected plugin's shortcode handling mechanism does not properly escape output before rendering, creating an environment where attacker-controlled data can be injected into web pages. This stored XSS vulnerability operates by allowing malicious actors to inject script code through the plugin's calendar shortcode attributes, which are then stored in the WordPress database and executed whenever users view pages containing the compromised content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, and redirection to malicious websites. Contributors and higher-level users possess sufficient privileges to modify content, making this attack vector particularly dangerous in multi-user WordPress environments where multiple roles exist. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once injected, malicious scripts persist in the system and execute automatically whenever affected pages are accessed, potentially compromising numerous users over extended periods. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal cookies, access sensitive administrative functions, or redirect users to phishing sites, making it a significant threat to WordPress site security and user data protection.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through plugin updates to version 3.9.15 or later, which presumably contains the necessary patches to address the input sanitization and output escaping deficiencies. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including role-based access controls to limit contributor privileges where possible, regular security audits of plugin installations, and monitoring for suspicious content modifications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1546.001, which describes Windows Registry Run Keys or Startup Folder, though in this context it relates more appropriately to T1059.007 for script-based attacks. Administrators should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to add an additional layer of protection against script execution, while conducting thorough security assessments of all active plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist within the WordPress ecosystem.