CVE-2024-37956 in VK All in One Expansion Unit Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/20/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Vektor,Inc. VK All in One Expansion Unit allows Stored XSS.This issue affects VK All in One Expansion Unit: from n/a through 9.98.1.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the VK All in One Expansion Unit plugin developed by Vektor,Inc. 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 targeted web application. The vulnerability specifically affects versions ranging from the initial release through 9.98.1.0, indicating a broad scope of impacted installations that could potentially include numerous websites utilizing this WordPress plugin. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that malicious payloads are not limited to a single request but can remain embedded within the application's database, executing whenever users access affected pages. This persistent characteristic significantly amplifies the potential impact compared to reflected XSS variants. The flaw falls under CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation as a fundamental weakness in web application security. From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability creates a pathway for attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of affected users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users. The ATT&CK framework would classify this as a technique involving code injection and session management compromise, specifically targeting the web application layer where user interactions are processed. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to inject malicious JavaScript code through input fields or parameters that are not properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages. The stored nature of the attack vector means that once the malicious input is accepted and stored by the application, it becomes part of the normal application flow, making detection more challenging for security monitoring systems. This vulnerability particularly affects WordPress environments where the VK All in One Expansion Unit plugin is installed, potentially compromising thousands of websites that rely on this plugin for various expansion functionalities. The attack surface expands when considering that the plugin may be used in conjunction with other WordPress components, creating additional vectors for exploitation. Organizations using this plugin should immediately assess their deployment environments and implement appropriate mitigations to prevent unauthorized code execution.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability demonstrates a failure in input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the plugin's web page generation logic. When user-supplied data is processed and subsequently rendered in web pages without proper sanitization, the application becomes susceptible to script injection attacks. The vulnerability's classification as stored XSS indicates that the malicious input is first stored in the application's database or storage mechanisms before being retrieved and executed, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over time. This pattern of exploitation aligns with common web application security weaknesses identified in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing the persistent nature of stored XSS attacks. The affected version range suggests that this vulnerability has been present for an extended period, potentially allowing attackers to develop and refine exploitation techniques against unpatched installations. Security researchers have noted that such vulnerabilities often persist across multiple releases due to inadequate security testing during development cycles. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable more sophisticated attacks including privilege escalation, data exfiltration, and the establishment of backdoors within affected web applications. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures and ensure proper output encoding to prevent the injection of malicious scripts into web page content. The remediation approach should include immediate patching of affected versions, implementation of web application firewalls, and enhanced security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, administrators should review user permissions and access controls to minimize the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.