CVE-2024-3753 in Hostel Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/13/2024
The Hostel WordPress plugin before 1.1.5.3 does not sanitise and escape a parameter before outputting it back in the page, leading to a Reflected Cross-Site Scripting which could be used against high privilege users such as admin
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/18/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-3753 affects the Hostel WordPress plugin version 1.1.5.2 and earlier, presenting a critical reflected cross-site scripting flaw that poses significant risks to administrative users. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization practices within the plugin's codebase, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary script code within the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical flaw manifests when the plugin fails to properly sanitize and escape user-supplied parameters before incorporating them into HTML output. This occurs in the plugin's handling of HTTP request parameters that are directly reflected back to users without proper encoding or validation. When an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script payloads and tricks an administrator into clicking it, the script executes in the admin's browser context, potentially enabling full administrative compromise. The vulnerability specifically targets parameters that are processed and displayed without adequate security measures, making it particularly dangerous given that administrators typically have elevated privileges and access to sensitive system functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates opportunities for privilege escalation and persistent attacks. High-privilege users such as administrators are the primary targets because their browser sessions contain session cookies and administrative capabilities that can be exploited through XSS attacks. An attacker could potentially steal administrator session tokens, execute unauthorized administrative actions, or even install backdoors through the compromised admin session. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the attack payload is delivered via a malicious URL that must be clicked by the victim, but this delivery mechanism makes the attack surface particularly broad since administrators frequently navigate to various plugin interfaces and may be tricked through social engineering or phishing campaigns.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software applications, and it maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for the initial access phase through spearphishing attachments or links. The weakness demonstrates poor input validation practices that violate fundamental security principles for web application development. Organizations running affected plugin versions face immediate risk of unauthorized administrative access and potential data breaches, particularly in environments where administrators regularly interact with web interfaces. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that many WordPress installations lack comprehensive security monitoring, making such attacks harder to detect and respond to effectively.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate plugin updates to version 1.1.5.3 or later, which contain the necessary sanitization patches. Administrators should also implement additional security measures including web application firewalls, input validation rules, and regular security auditing of installed plugins. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious URL patterns and parameter manipulation attempts. Network-level defenses can help by blocking known malicious domains and implementing strict content security policies that prevent script execution from untrusted sources. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other plugins and themes, as this vulnerability type frequently appears in poorly secured web applications.