CVE-2024-4575 in LayerSlider Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/23/2024
The LayerSlider plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's ls_search_form shortcode in version 7.11.0 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 • 03/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-4575 affects the LayerSlider plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting version 7.11.0 where a stored cross-site scripting flaw exists within the ls_search_form shortcode implementation. This security weakness stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms that fail to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied attributes before processing them within the plugin's functionality. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector where malicious code can be injected and stored within the WordPress environment, making it particularly dangerous as the malicious scripts will execute automatically whenever affected pages are accessed by any user with appropriate permissions.
The technical flaw manifests through the improper handling of user input parameters within the ls_search_form shortcode functionality. When authenticated users with contributor-level access or higher submit content containing malicious scripts through plugin attributes, these inputs are not sufficiently sanitized before being stored within the WordPress database. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that can be executed in the context of other users' browsers, creating a persistent XSS vulnerability that can affect multiple users over time. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and represents a classic stored XSS attack pattern where the malicious code is stored on the server and executed when legitimate users access the affected content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection as it creates a persistent threat that can compromise user sessions, steal sensitive information, manipulate content, or redirect users to malicious websites. Attackers with contributor privileges can leverage this vulnerability to escalate their privileges or conduct session hijacking attacks against other users with higher permissions. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once injected, malicious code remains active until manually removed from the system, potentially allowing attackers to maintain persistent access to compromised WordPress installations. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-79 which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, and represents a significant risk to WordPress site integrity and user security.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-4575 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the input sanitization and output escaping deficiencies. Administrators should implement strict input validation measures and ensure all user-supplied attributes are properly escaped before being processed or stored within the WordPress environment. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual shortcode usage patterns and unauthorized content modifications. Additionally, implementing content security policies and regular security audits of WordPress plugins can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output escaping as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security principles and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers the use of malicious content to execute code on target systems.