CVE-2024-37558 in WPFavicon Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/21/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Nazmul Hossain Nihal WPFavicon allows Stored XSS.This issue affects WPFavicon: from n/a through 2.1.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the WPFavicon plugin for WordPress, specifically impacting versions ranging from the initial release through 2.1.1. The issue stems from improper input sanitization during web page generation processes, creating an environment where malicious scripts can be persistently stored and executed within the victim's browser context. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 which defines improper neutralization of input during web page generation, a fundamental weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious code that gets stored on the server and subsequently served to other users. This stored XSS vulnerability occurs when user-supplied data is not properly escaped or validated before being rendered in web pages, enabling persistent malicious script execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the plugin's handling of favicon-related data inputs. When administrators or users interact with the plugin's functionality, malicious payloads can be submitted through input fields or parameters that are then stored in the database without adequate sanitization. The stored scripts can include malicious JavaScript code that executes whenever affected pages are loaded, potentially compromising user sessions, stealing cookies, or redirecting users to malicious sites. This particular vulnerability affects the WordPress ecosystem specifically through the WPFavicon plugin, making it a targeted attack vector for WordPress administrators who have not updated to patched versions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that leverage the stored nature of the XSS payload. Attackers can craft malicious favicon data that, when processed by the vulnerable plugin, gets stored and subsequently executed against all users who view pages containing the compromised favicon functionality. This persistent nature makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users interact with the same WordPress site, as the malicious code becomes a permanent threat vector. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that favicon processing occurs automatically during page generation, meaning that even passive browsing can trigger the execution of stored malicious scripts. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which describes social engineering through spearphishing with a payload, as attackers could potentially use this vulnerability to deliver malicious code to users through seemingly legitimate favicon handling processes.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of the WPFavicon plugin to versions that address the XSS flaw through proper input validation and output escaping. Administrators should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures that escape or filter all user-supplied data before storage, particularly focusing on the favicon processing functionality. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth by monitoring for suspicious payload patterns in favicon-related requests. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual favicon processing activities and implementation of content security policies that restrict script execution from unauthorized sources. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities, with particular attention to input validation practices in all plugin components. The remediation process must also include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patched version properly handles all types of favicon data while maintaining the plugin's intended functionality.