CVE-2024-37556 in WordPress Notification Bar Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/21/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in SeedProd WordPress Notification Bar allows Stored XSS.This issue affects WordPress Notification Bar: from n/a through 1.3.10.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in the SeedProd WordPress Notification Bar plugin that enables stored XSS attacks. The flaw occurs during the web page generation process where user input is not properly sanitized or neutralized before being rendered back to users. The vulnerability specifically affects versions of the plugin ranging from the initial release through 1.3.10, indicating a long-standing issue that has persisted across multiple iterations. The improper handling of input data creates an environment where malicious actors can inject malicious scripts that will execute in the context of other users' browsers when they view affected pages.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the plugin's codebase. When administrators or users create notification messages or configure plugin settings, the system fails to properly escape or sanitize special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that are then stored in the database and subsequently executed whenever the notification bar is rendered on a webpage. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious code persists and affects all users who view the affected pages, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack vectors including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious sites. Attackers can craft notifications that appear legitimate to end users while simultaneously executing malicious JavaScript code that can steal cookies, capture keystrokes, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. This represents a significant threat to WordPress site security, particularly for sites that rely on notification bars for user engagement or administrative communications. The vulnerability also aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious notifications or banners.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to the latest version of the SeedProd Notification Bar plugin where the XSS flaw has been addressed. Additionally, administrators should review existing notification bar configurations for any suspicious or malicious content that may have been injected. Network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers while the official patch is deployed. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in notification bar usage or unexpected script execution. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of input validation and output encoding practices in web application development, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing including dynamic application security testing and static code analysis to prevent similar issues in other plugins or custom code implementations.