CVE-2024-37958 in Smart Author Widget Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/20/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Meks Meks Smart Author Widget allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Meks Smart Author Widget: from n/a through 1.1.4.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-37958 represents a critical security flaw in the Meks Smart Author Widget plugin, specifically categorized under CWE-79 which defines improper neutralization of input during web page generation. This weakness enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, creating a persistent cross-site scripting vulnerability that can be exploited for various malicious purposes including session hijacking, data theft, and privilege escalation. The vulnerability exists within the plugin's handling of user input during the generation of web pages, where insufficient sanitization allows attackers to store malicious payloads that execute whenever the affected pages are loaded.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Meks Smart Author Widget plugin. When users provide input through various fields within the widget configuration, the plugin fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as executable code by web browsers. This allows an attacker to inject malicious javascript code, html tags, or other script elements that get stored in the plugin's database or configuration files. The stored payload then executes whenever the affected web page is rendered, making this a persistent stored XSS vulnerability rather than a reflected one.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for WordPress sites utilizing the Meks Smart Author Widget plugin, as it provides attackers with a means to compromise user sessions and potentially gain administrative privileges. An attacker could inject malicious scripts that steal cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, modify page content, or execute unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability affects all versions from the initial release through version 1.1.4, indicating a long-standing issue that has not been properly addressed. This allows for extended exploitation windows and increases the attack surface for potential victims who may be running outdated versions of the plugin.
Organizations and website administrators should immediately update to the latest version of the Meks Smart Author Widget plugin to mitigate this vulnerability, as no patch was available for versions prior to 1.1.5. The remediation process involves verifying the plugin version, applying the official update from the plugin developer, and conducting thorough security testing to ensure the fix is properly implemented. Additionally, administrators should implement proper input validation at multiple layers including client-side and server-side filtering, implement content security policies to limit script execution, and conduct regular security audits of installed plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566.001 - Phishing with Social Engineering, as attackers can leverage stored XSS to manipulate user interactions and extract sensitive information through crafted malicious payloads.