CVE-2024-44045 in WP Abstracts Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/06/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Kevon Adonis WP Abstracts wp-abstracts-manuscripts-manager allows Stored XSS.This issue affects WP Abstracts: from n/a through <= 2.6.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the WP Abstracts plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions through 2.6.5. The issue stems from improper input sanitization during web page generation, creating a stored XSS attack vector that allows malicious actors to inject persistent malicious scripts into the plugin's administrative interface. The vulnerability occurs when user-supplied data is not properly escaped or validated before being rendered in HTML output, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of authenticated admin sessions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves an attacker submitting malicious input through the plugin's manuscript management interface, which is then stored in the database and subsequently reflected in administrative pages without proper sanitization. This stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload persists and executes whenever administrators view the affected pages, potentially leading to complete administrative compromise. The flaw aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, and represents a classic case of insecure input handling in web applications where user data is directly incorporated into generated HTML without adequate escaping mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WordPress installations using the affected plugin, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to escalate privileges, modify content, steal administrative credentials, or perform unauthorized actions within the WordPress environment. The stored nature of the XSS means that the attack can affect multiple administrators over time without requiring repeated exploitation attempts. Security frameworks such as the MITRE ATT&CK framework classify this under T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566.001 for credential access through social engineering, as the vulnerability can be leveraged to gain persistent access to administrative interfaces.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to the latest version of the WP Abstracts plugin where the vulnerability has been patched, applying input validation and output escaping mechanisms, and monitoring for suspicious activity in administrative interfaces. Additional protective measures include implementing content security policies to prevent script execution, restricting administrative access through network segmentation, and conducting regular security audits of third-party plugins. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization in web applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of all user-facing interfaces in content management systems.