CVE-2024-4753 in WP Secure Maintenance Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/12/2024
The WP Secure Maintenance WordPress plugin before 1.7 does not sanitise and escape some of its settings, which could allow high privilege users such as admin to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks even when the unfiltered_html capability is disallowed (for example in multisite setup)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2025
The WP Secure Maintenance WordPress plugin vulnerability CVE-2024-4753 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw that affects versions prior to 1.7. This vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's handling of user settings where input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms are insufficiently implemented. The flaw exists within the plugin's administrative interface where configuration parameters are stored and subsequently rendered without proper validation, creating an environment where malicious scripts can be persistently injected and executed. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects high-privilege users including administrators who typically possess elevated permissions within WordPress installations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the plugin's settings management system. When administrators configure maintenance settings through the WordPress admin panel, the plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before storing it in the database. This insufficient sanitization allows malicious payloads to be stored as part of legitimate configuration values, creating a persistent XSS vector that can be triggered whenever the affected settings are displayed or processed. The vulnerability manifests even when WordPress security measures such as the unfiltered_html capability are restricted, which typically prevents non-privileged users from injecting malicious code. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in multisite environments where administrators may believe their security restrictions are sufficient to prevent such attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-4753 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive administrative functions and user data. When successful, the stored XSS attack can enable attackers to steal administrator session cookies, modify plugin settings, or redirect users to malicious sites. In multisite configurations, the vulnerability becomes even more critical as it can potentially compromise multiple sites within a single network. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it leverages legitimate administrative functionality, making it difficult to detect through standard security monitoring. The vulnerability affects the plugin's core functionality where user input is expected and processed, creating a persistent threat that remains active until the plugin is updated or the malicious data is manually removed.
Security mitigations for CVE-2024-4753 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to version 1.7 or later, which contains the necessary sanitization fixes. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring of plugin configuration changes and user activities within the WordPress admin interface. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.005 for command and scripting interpreter. Organizations should conduct thorough security audits of all installed WordPress plugins to identify similar sanitization issues, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in web applications. The fix implemented in version 1.7 addresses the root cause by introducing comprehensive sanitization and escaping mechanisms for all user-controllable settings, ensuring that potentially malicious input cannot be stored or executed within the plugin's administrative interface.