CVE-2024-3963 in Giveaways and Contests Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/13/2024
The Giveaways and Contests by RafflePress WordPress plugin before 1.12.14 does not sanitise and escape some parameters, which could allow users with a role as low as editor to perform Cross-Site Scripting attacks
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/18/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-3963 affects the Giveaways and Contests by RafflePress WordPress plugin, specifically versions prior to 1.12.14. This security flaw represents a critical concern for WordPress site administrators who rely on this plugin for running promotional campaigns and user engagement activities. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization and escaping of user-supplied parameters within the plugin's codebase, creating an exploitable condition that could be leveraged by malicious actors with relatively low privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through the plugin's failure to properly validate and sanitize input parameters before processing them within the application's logic. Attackers with editor-level permissions can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious JavaScript code through various input fields that are used to configure giveaway parameters, contest settings, or user submission forms. This lack of proper input validation creates a persistent cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the compromised WordPress environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple XSS attacks, as it provides attackers with a foothold to escalate their privileges and compromise the entire WordPress installation. When an editor-level user can inject malicious scripts, they effectively gain the ability to manipulate the plugin's functionality and potentially access sensitive data or system resources. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where editors may have access to user data or administrative functions through the plugin's interface. The attack surface is further expanded because the vulnerability affects core plugin functionality that handles user interactions and contest management.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The weakness represents a classic case of insufficient output escaping and input validation, making it susceptible to exploitation through the ATT&CK framework's initial access and persistence phases. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it requires minimal privilege escalation to exploit, making it particularly attractive to attackers who may be able to compromise lower-privilege accounts first. Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to the patched version 1.12.14 or higher, implementing additional input validation measures, and monitoring for suspicious activities in the plugin's administrative interfaces.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability requires immediate patch deployment across all affected WordPress installations, with thorough testing to ensure compatibility with existing plugin configurations. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of all installed WordPress plugins to identify similar sanitization issues that may exist in other third-party components. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls, enforcing strict content security policies, and conducting regular security assessments of WordPress environments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced through third-party software components.