CVE-2024-44062 in Custom Field Template Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Hiroaki Miyashita Custom Field Template allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Custom Field Template: from n/a through 2.6.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/10/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Custom Field Template plugin for WordPress, specifically impacting versions through 2.6.5. The issue stems from improper input sanitization during web page generation processes, creating a persistent stored XSS attack vector that can compromise user sessions and execute malicious code within the context of affected websites. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. This particular implementation flaw occurs when user-supplied data is not adequately sanitized before being rendered in web page templates, enabling malicious actors to store harmful scripts that persist across multiple user interactions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to submit malicious input through the plugin's custom field template functionality, which then gets stored in the database and subsequently rendered in subsequent page views without proper sanitization. This stored nature makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over time without requiring repeated exploitation attempts. The attack surface is primarily through the plugin's template processing mechanisms where user inputs are directly incorporated into generated HTML content without appropriate context-aware escaping or sanitization. The vulnerability affects any WordPress installation using the Custom Field Template plugin within the specified version range, making it a widespread concern for website administrators who have not updated to patched versions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to website security and user data integrity. Attackers can leverage this stored XSS to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious websites. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft, session manipulation, or data exfiltration. The vulnerability's persistence means that once exploited, the malicious payload will continue to affect users until the plugin is updated or the malicious content is manually removed from the database. This characteristic makes it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators may not immediately discover or address the vulnerability after initial compromise.
Security mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability, as this represents the most effective defense mechanism. Additionally, administrators should implement proper input validation and output encoding practices throughout their web applications, following the principle of least privilege for plugin installations and regularly auditing installed plugins for security issues. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.008 technique for 'Scripting' and T1566.001 for 'Phishing' as attackers may use stored XSS to deliver additional malicious payloads or create convincing phishing pages. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers, regular security scanning of web applications, and maintaining comprehensive backup strategies to quickly recover from potential exploitation. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices, which aligns with the OWASP Top Ten security principles and emphasizes the need for defense-in-depth strategies in web application security.