CVE-2024-3512 in WP Shortcodes Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/10/2024
The WP Shortcodes Plugin — Shortcodes Ultimate plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's 'note_color' shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 7.0.4 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 • 06/23/2026
The WP Shortcodes Plugin - Shortcodes Ultimate presents a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that affects all versions up to and including 7.0.4. This vulnerability resides within the plugin's 'note_color' shortcode implementation where inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms fail to properly validate user-supplied attributes. The flaw operates as a classic stored XSS attack vector, allowing malicious actors to embed executable scripts within the plugin's shortcode parameters that persist in the database until manually removed.
The security implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple script execution as it specifically targets authenticated users with contributor-level access or higher privileges. This access level is particularly concerning because contributors can typically create and edit posts, making them legitimate users who should not be able to compromise the entire WordPress installation through their normal operations. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat where malicious scripts injected through compromised shortcodes will execute whenever any user accesses pages containing the infected content, regardless of whether they have administrative privileges or not.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses situations where user-provided data is inadequately sanitized before being rendered in web pages. The flaw represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and proper input validation within WordPress plugin architecture. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a technique involving command injection and code execution through web application vulnerabilities, with the attacker leveraging their legitimate access rights to escalate privileges through malicious content injection rather than exploiting authentication bypasses.
The operational impact of this vulnerability creates significant risks for WordPress installations utilizing the Shortcodes Ultimate plugin. Any user with contributor-level access can potentially compromise the entire site by injecting malicious scripts that persist across multiple page views and user sessions. This allows attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, redirection to malicious sites, or even full site takeover through more sophisticated attack chains. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once injected, the malicious code remains active until manually removed from the database, creating a persistent threat vector.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention and include several key approaches. Organizations should upgrade to the latest version of the Shortcodes Ultimate plugin where the XSS vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. System administrators should implement additional security measures such as restricting contributor-level access to only essential functions, implementing content security policies, and conducting regular security audits of plugin installations. The remediation process must include thorough scanning of existing content for potentially injected malicious scripts and establishing monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized modifications to shortcodes or other plugin parameters that could indicate exploitation attempts.
Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious script injection patterns, while maintaining comprehensive logging of all shortcode usage and user activities within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation at multiple levels within web applications and reinforces the need for security-conscious development practices that follow established standards for preventing cross-site scripting attacks in content management systems.