CVE-2024-3977 in Jitsi Shortcode Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/14/2024
The WordPress Jitsi Shortcode WordPress plugin through 0.1 does not sanitise and escape some of its settings, which could allow high privilege users such as admin to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks even when the unfiltered_html capability is disallowed (for example in multisite setup)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-3977 affects the WordPress Jitsi Shortcode plugin version 0.1 and below, presenting a critical security risk through stored cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. This issue arises from insufficient sanitization and escaping of user-provided settings within the plugin's codebase, creating an environment where malicious actors can inject harmful scripts that persist across user sessions. The vulnerability specifically targets high-privilege users such as administrators, who possess the capability to manipulate plugin configurations and execute malicious payloads within the context of the affected WordPress installation.
The technical flaw stems from the plugin's failure to properly validate and sanitize input parameters before storing them in the database or rendering them in web pages. When administrators configure Jitsi meeting settings through the plugin interface, the input values are not adequately escaped or filtered, allowing malicious script code to be stored in the system. This stored script executes whenever other users view pages containing the shortcode, making it a persistent threat that can affect multiple users without requiring them to interact with malicious links or content directly. The vulnerability becomes particularly dangerous in multisite WordPress environments where the unfiltered_html capability is restricted, as the plugin's design allows for bypassing these security restrictions through its vulnerable configuration handling mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, privilege escalation, and complete compromise of the affected WordPress installation. Administrators who are tricked into saving malicious configurations or who have their accounts compromised can inadvertently introduce persistent backdoors or malicious code that affects all users of the site. In multisite environments, this vulnerability can potentially impact multiple sites within the network, especially when the plugin is activated across multiple subsites. The stored nature of the XSS vulnerability means that even if the initial attack vector is patched, the malicious code remains active until manually removed from the database, making it particularly persistent and difficult to track.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications, and represents a classic case of insufficient output escaping in web applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 (Phishing via Social Media) and T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) as attackers can leverage the stored XSS to establish persistent access and execute commands through compromised administrator sessions. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest plugin version if available, applying custom sanitization patches, restricting administrative privileges to essential personnel only, and monitoring database entries for suspicious configurations. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers and regular security audits of plugin configurations can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of input validation and output escaping in web applications, particularly in plugins that handle user configuration data and integrate with external services like Jitsi video conferencing platforms.