CVE-2024-3587 in Premium Portfolio Features for Phlox Theme
Summary
by MITRE • 07/16/2024
The Premium Portfolio Features for Phlox theme plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's Grid Portfolios Widget in all versions up to, and including, 2.3.2 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 • 03/18/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-3587 affects the Premium Portfolio Features for Phlox theme plugin, a popular WordPress plugin used for creating portfolio displays and grid layouts. This issue represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of WordPress installations by allowing malicious actors to inject persistent malicious scripts into website content. The vulnerability specifically targets the Grid Portfolios Widget component within the plugin, which is designed to display portfolio items in customizable grid formats. All versions of the plugin up to and including 2.3.2 are affected, making this a widespread concern for WordPress site administrators who rely on this particular theme functionality. The flaw exists in the plugin's handling of user-supplied input data, particularly within the widget's attribute processing mechanisms, where insufficient sanitization and escaping procedures leave the system exposed to cross-site scripting attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output escaping within the plugin's codebase, creating a persistent cross-site scripting vector that can be exploited by authenticated attackers. According to CWE-79, this vulnerability falls under the category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically a stored variant where malicious scripts are permanently saved on the target server and executed whenever users access compromised pages. The attack requires only contributor-level privileges or higher, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by users who have legitimate access to the WordPress administration panel but lack full administrative rights. This privilege level typically includes authors, editors, and other content contributors who may have access to widget customization features. The vulnerability operates by allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code through the widget's attribute parameters, which are then stored in the database and executed when users view pages containing the compromised widget.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious sites. When authenticated users access pages containing the compromised widget, their browsers execute the injected scripts, which can capture cookies, steal session information, or redirect users to phishing sites. This creates a persistent threat that can affect all users who view the compromised content, making the attack vector particularly effective for large-scale exploitation. The vulnerability's presence in the Grid Portfolios Widget means that any site using this particular feature is at risk, regardless of whether the attacker has direct access to the plugin's configuration files or can manipulate the widget through the standard WordPress interface. The stored nature of the XSS attack ensures that the malicious code remains active until manually removed from the database, creating a long-term security risk for affected installations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-3587 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the input sanitization and output escaping deficiencies. System administrators should implement comprehensive access controls and regularly review user permissions to minimize the risk of unauthorized exploitation, particularly focusing on limiting contributor-level access to widget customization features. Security monitoring should include regular scanning of database content for suspicious script injections, as well as implementing content security policies to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and input validation mechanisms that can detect and block malicious attribute values before they are processed by the plugin. According to ATT&CK framework technique T1566, this vulnerability represents a persistent threat that can be leveraged for initial access and privilege escalation, making it essential for security teams to monitor for signs of exploitation attempts and maintain up-to-date threat intelligence on similar vulnerabilities within the WordPress ecosystem. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar input validation weaknesses across the entire WordPress installation.