CVE-2024-51573 in ML Responsive Audio Player with Playlist Shortcode Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/11/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Matthew Lillistone ML Responsive Audio player with playlist Shortcode allows Stored XSS.This issue affects ML Responsive Audio player with playlist Shortcode: from n/a through 0.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the ML Responsive Audio player with playlist Shortcode plugin for WordPress systems. The issue stems from improper input sanitization during web page generation processes where user-supplied data is not adequately neutralized before being rendered in web pages. This allows malicious actors to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers when they view affected pages. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions ranging from the initial release through version 0.2 of the plugin, indicating it has existed for some time without proper security controls being implemented. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that malicious payloads are persisted on the server and executed whenever affected pages are loaded, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over extended periods. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, where inadequate input validation and output encoding creates opportunities for attackers to execute arbitrary scripts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with the ability to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, modify content, or redirect users to malicious websites. Attackers can leverage this stored XSS to perform actions such as stealing cookies, executing malicious commands, or even performing privilege escalation if the affected users have administrative privileges. The vulnerability's presence in a media player plugin creates additional risk as users may be tricked into interacting with malicious audio player interfaces that contain hidden scripts. This type of attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers social engineering through spearphishing attachments, as attackers could potentially embed malicious scripts within audio player configurations or playlist data. The persistent nature of stored XSS makes it particularly concerning for WordPress environments where plugins often handle user-generated content and configuration data that gets stored in database tables.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate input validation and output encoding controls. The plugin developers must implement proper sanitization of all user inputs including playlist names, audio file URLs, and configuration parameters before storing them in the database. Output encoding should be applied when rendering these values back to web pages to prevent script execution in browser contexts. Organizations should also implement content security policies to limit script execution capabilities and monitor for unusual patterns in plugin usage or data modifications. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins should include checks for proper input handling and output encoding practices. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top 10 and the CWE guidelines for preventing cross-site scripting attacks. Users should update to the latest version of the plugin as soon as available, and administrators should consider implementing additional security layers such as web application firewalls or intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Given that this is a stored XSS vulnerability, network-level monitoring becomes crucial for detecting malicious payload injection attempts and identifying compromised plugin installations.