CVE-2024-43308 in Gutenberg Blocks Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/18/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Gutentor Gutentor - Gutenberg Blocks - Page Builder for Gutenberg Editor allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Gutentor - Gutenberg Blocks - Page Builder for Gutenberg Editor: from n/a through 3.3.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2024-43308 represents a critical improper neutralization of input during web page generation flaw that manifests as a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability within the Gutentor Gutenberg Blocks plugin. This issue exists in the Gutentor - Gutenberg Blocks - Page Builder for Gutenberg Editor software, impacting versions from the initial release through 3.3.5. The vulnerability occurs when user input is not properly sanitized or escaped before being rendered in web pages, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to inject persistent malicious scripts into the application's output. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that once malicious code is injected, it remains persistent in the application's database and will execute every time the affected page is loaded by other users, making it particularly dangerous for content management systems where multiple users interact with shared content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms when processing user-generated content within the Gutenberg editor environment. When administrators or users create or modify pages using Gutentor blocks, the plugin does not sufficiently sanitize data that flows from user inputs into HTML output generation. This creates a pathway for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code through various input fields within the Gutenberg editor interface, which then gets stored in the database and executed whenever the page is rendered for other users. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious content injection. The improper neutralization occurs at the point where user-supplied data transitions from the editing interface into the rendered web page output, bypassing standard security controls that should prevent such malicious code execution.
The operational impact of this stored XSS vulnerability is significant for organizations using the Gutentor plugin, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of other users' browsers. This can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, redirection to malicious sites, data exfiltration, and potential privilege escalation within the application. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain persistent access to user accounts, steal administrator credentials, or manipulate content displayed on the website. The stored nature means that the malicious payload remains active even after the initial injection, allowing for long-term exploitation without requiring repeated user interaction. This vulnerability particularly affects WordPress installations where Gutentor is installed, potentially compromising the entire website ecosystem including user sessions, administrative functions, and sensitive content management capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-43308 should prioritize immediate patching of the Gutentor plugin to version 3.3.6 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes for the XSS vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures throughout their web applications, ensuring that all user-generated content is properly sanitized before being stored or rendered. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect suspicious activities related to content injection attempts. Additionally, implementing content security policies and regular security audits of third-party plugins can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for common XSS attack patterns, while ensuring that all users have appropriate access controls and that administrative privileges are tightly managed to minimize potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.