CVE-2024-35707 in Heateor Social Login Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/08/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Team Heateor Heateor Social Login allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Heateor Social Login: from n/a through 1.1.32.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Team Heateor Heateor Social Login plugin for WordPress, specifically impacting versions through 1.1.32. The issue manifests as a stored XSS vulnerability, meaning malicious scripts can be permanently injected into the web application and subsequently executed whenever users access affected pages. The vulnerability stems from improper input sanitization during web page generation processes, where user-supplied data containing malicious script code is not adequately neutralized before being rendered in web pages. This allows attackers to inject persistent malicious payloads that can compromise user sessions, steal sensitive information, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users.
The technical flaw occurs within the plugin's handling of social login data and user profile information, where input validation mechanisms fail to properly sanitize potentially malicious content. When users authenticate through social networks or when profile data is processed, the plugin does not sufficiently filter or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This creates an attack surface where malicious actors can submit crafted payloads through social login forms or user profile fields that get stored in the database and later executed in subsequent page requests. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a classic case of insufficient input sanitization in web applications. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 (Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment) and T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript) as attackers can leverage this weakness to deliver malicious JavaScript payloads.
The operational impact of this stored XSS vulnerability is severe for affected WordPress installations, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code in the context of victim browsers. Once exploited, attackers can hijack user sessions, steal authentication cookies, modify website content, redirect users to malicious sites, or even install backdoors for persistent access. The vulnerability affects not only individual user accounts but can also compromise the entire website if administrators or other users are tricked into interacting with malicious payloads. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious code persists even after the initial injection, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over extended periods. Organizations using this plugin without proper mitigations face significant risk of data breaches, unauthorized access, and potential compromise of their entire WordPress ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate plugin updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability, as well as implementing comprehensive input validation and output escaping mechanisms. Administrators should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, conducting thorough security audits of all installed plugins, and monitoring for suspicious user activity or unauthorized code modifications. Additionally, network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block malicious payloads, while regular security assessments should include vulnerability scanning of all web applications and plugins to identify similar weaknesses. The remediation process must also include user education about the risks of clicking suspicious links or providing personal information on compromised sites, as social engineering remains a critical component of successful exploitation attempts.