CVE-2024-4970 in Widget Bundle Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/21/2024
The Widget Bundle WordPress plugin through 2.0.0 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 vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-4970 affects the Widget Bundle WordPress plugin version 2.0.0 and earlier, presenting a critical security risk through stored cross-site scripting exploits. This flaw resides in the plugin's handling of user settings where insufficient sanitization and escaping mechanisms leave the system susceptible to malicious code injection. The vulnerability specifically targets high-privilege users including administrators who possess the capability to modify plugin configurations, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative access is maintained by multiple users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly validate and sanitize user input within its settings management system. When administrators configure plugin options through the WordPress admin interface, the plugin stores these values without adequate filtering processes that would normally prevent malicious script execution. This oversight creates a persistent XSS vector where injected scripts are stored server-side and executed whenever affected pages are rendered to users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates even when the unfiltered_html capability is restricted, which typically serves as a security barrier against script injection in multisite WordPress installations where user permissions are more strictly controlled.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-4970 extends beyond simple script execution as it enables attackers with administrator privileges to potentially escalate their access within the WordPress environment. Stored XSS attacks can be used to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized administrative actions, or redirect users to malicious sites. In a multisite configuration, this vulnerability becomes even more perilous as it could allow attackers to compromise multiple sites within the network. The attack vector requires only that an attacker obtain administrative access to a site, which is often achieved through credential compromise, social engineering, or exploitation of other vulnerabilities within the WordPress ecosystem. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors who may already have partial access to target environments.
Security mitigations for CVE-2024-4970 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the sanitization deficiencies. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output escaping mechanisms for all user-controllable settings within WordPress plugins, following established security practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and CWE-79. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by restricting administrative capabilities to only those users who absolutely require them, reducing the attack surface available to potential exploiters. Additionally, regular security audits of WordPress plugins should include verification of sanitization practices and implementation of security monitoring to detect unusual administrative activities. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers and other defensive measures to limit the impact of potential XSS exploitation even when other controls fail. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1548.001 for privilege escalation and T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter usage, making it a significant concern for security operations teams monitoring for advanced persistent threats within WordPress environments.