CVE-2024-43216 in Filr Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/13/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in WP Chill Filr filr-protection.This issue affects Filr: from n/a through <= 1.2.4.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2026
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists within the WP Chill Filr filr-protection plugin, specifically impacting versions through 1.2.4. The flaw represents a classic input sanitization failure where user-supplied data is inadequately processed before being rendered in web page contexts. The vulnerability allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary script code into web pages viewed by other users, potentially enabling session hijacking, data theft, or malicious redirection attacks. This type of weakness falls under the CWE-79 category for cross-site scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws according to the CWE database.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the plugin's web page generation process. When user-provided parameters are directly incorporated into HTML responses without proper sanitization or encoding, attackers can craft malicious payloads that execute within the victim's browser context. The vulnerability likely occurs during the handling of file operations, user interactions, or administrative functions within the filr-protection component. Attackers could exploit this by manipulating URL parameters, form inputs, or other user-controllable data elements that are subsequently displayed on web pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains within compromised environments. An attacker could leverage this XSS flaw to steal administrator credentials, modify file access controls, or inject malicious content that persists across multiple user sessions. The vulnerability affects the entire filr plugin ecosystem, potentially compromising all users who have the vulnerable version installed. This weakness creates a persistent threat vector that remains active until the plugin is updated or the vulnerability is patched, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on the filr protection functionality.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability, as this represents the most effective remediation approach. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including content security policy headers, input validation frameworks, and regular security scanning of web applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for script injection, highlighting the need for comprehensive input sanitization and output encoding practices. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection while awaiting official patches, though these measures should not be considered replacements for proper code-level fixes. Security teams should also monitor for exploitation attempts and implement logging mechanisms to detect potential XSS attacks targeting this specific vulnerability.