CVE-2024-4209 in Gutenberg Blocks Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/14/2024
The Gutenberg Blocks with AI by Kadence WP – Page Builder Features plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the countdown timer in all versions up to, and including, 3.2.36 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on user supplied attributes. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with contributor-level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-4209 affects the Gutenberg Blocks with AI by Kadence WP plugin, specifically within its page builder features component. This issue manifests as a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that exists in all versions up to and including 3.2.36. The flaw resides in how the plugin handles user-supplied input within the countdown timer functionality, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited by authenticated attackers who possess contributor-level privileges or higher. The vulnerability represents a significant concern for WordPress environments that rely on this plugin for content creation and page building operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase. When users with contributor access or above create or modify pages containing the countdown timer block, they can inject malicious script code into attributes that are subsequently stored in the WordPress database. This stored data is then served to other users when they access the affected pages, causing the malicious scripts to execute in their browsers. The vulnerability specifically targets the countdown timer functionality where user inputs are not properly validated or escaped before being rendered back to users, creating a classic stored XSS attack vector that aligns with CWE-79, which defines the weakness of cross-site scripting in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform various malicious activities within the context of the affected WordPress installation. An authenticated attacker could potentially execute scripts that steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, modify content, or even escalate privileges within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability affects all users who access pages containing the maliciously injected countdown timer blocks, making it particularly dangerous in collaborative environments where multiple contributors have access to the content management system. This risk is compounded by the fact that the vulnerability requires only contributor-level access, which is often granted to trusted users who may not be fully vetted for malicious intent.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-4209 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the stored XSS vulnerability, as the vendor has likely released patches to correct the input sanitization and output escaping flaws. Organizations should also implement additional security measures including role-based access control reviews to limit contributor privileges where possible, and consider implementing content security policies that restrict script execution within the WordPress environment. Regular security auditing of third-party plugins and maintaining updated security tooling such as web application firewalls can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which covers phishing with malicious attachments, suggests that attackers might leverage this vulnerability as part of broader social engineering campaigns to compromise user sessions and gain unauthorized access to WordPress administrative functions.