CVE-2024-37951 in Magical Posts Display Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/20/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Noor alam Magical Posts Display – Elementor & Gutenberg Posts Blocks allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Magical Posts Display – Elementor & Gutenberg Posts Blocks: from n/a through 1.2.38.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw that enables attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of a victim's browser when interacting with web pages generated by the Magical Posts Display plugin. The issue manifests as a stored XSS vulnerability, meaning that malicious input injected into the plugin's configuration or content fields persists in the database and automatically executes whenever affected pages are loaded by other users. The vulnerability specifically impacts the Elementor and Gutenberg posts blocks functionality, where user input intended for displaying posts becomes improperly sanitized during web page generation processes.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the plugin's handling of user-supplied data. When administrators or users configure post display blocks through the WordPress admin interface, the plugin fails to properly neutralize potentially malicious input before rendering it into web pages. This allows attackers to inject JavaScript code or other malicious payloads that execute in the browser context of legitimate users who view the affected pages. The vulnerability exists across all versions from the initial release through version 1.2.38, indicating a long-standing issue in the plugin's input processing logic.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides attackers with persistent access to user sessions and potentially sensitive data within the affected WordPress environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of any user who visits pages using the vulnerable plugin, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or privilege escalation. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious code remains active until manually removed from the database, allowing for extended periods of unauthorized access and potential data exfiltration. This threat is particularly concerning in environments where multiple users interact with the same WordPress installation.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching to version 1.2.39 or later, which addresses the input sanitization issues. Administrators should also implement additional defensive measures including regular security audits of plugin configurations, monitoring for suspicious user activity, and implementing content security policies to limit script execution. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious content. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block known malicious payloads, and establish robust input validation policies for all user-supplied content within WordPress environments to prevent similar issues in other plugins and themes.