CVE-2024-38672 in AdPush Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/20/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in namithjawahar AdPush allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects AdPush: from n/a through 1.50.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the AdPush plugin for WordPress, specifically classified as a reflected XSS vulnerability that falls under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. The flaw occurs when user-supplied input is not properly sanitized or escaped before being rendered in web page content, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability affects all versions of AdPush from the initial release through version 1.50, indicating a long-standing issue that has not been properly addressed in the plugin's input handling mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input that gets reflected back to users through the web application's response. In the context of AdPush, this typically happens when user parameters are directly incorporated into HTML output without proper sanitization or encoding. When a victim visits a specially crafted URL containing malicious script payloads, the injected code executes in their browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. This reflected nature means the attack vector requires user interaction through a malicious link, making it particularly dangerous in phishing scenarios or when users are tricked into clicking compromised advertisements.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the context of the compromised WordPress installation. Attackers could potentially steal administrator cookies, modify content, or redirect users to malicious domains that appear legitimate. Given that AdPush is a plugin designed for advertising functionality, the attack surface is particularly concerning as it could be used to manipulate ad delivery, collect user data, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of the site owner. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious code does not persist on the server, but rather is delivered through user interaction, making it difficult to detect through traditional security scanning methods.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the plugin's codebase. The recommended approach includes sanitizing all user-supplied input using WordPress's built-in escaping functions such as esc_attr(), esc_html(), or esc_url() depending on the context where the data is used. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting script execution. The plugin developers should also consider implementing proper input validation routines that reject or sanitize potentially malicious content before it is processed or rendered. Organizations using this plugin should immediately update to the latest version if available, or implement temporary workarounds such as restricting user input through server-side filtering mechanisms. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as it can be exploited through malicious links that appear legitimate but contain XSS payloads designed to compromise user sessions. The vulnerability's classification as CWE-79 underscores the fundamental importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices in web application security, making it a critical issue that requires immediate attention from both developers and system administrators.