CVE-2024-5191 in Branda Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/21/2024
The Branda – White Label WordPress, Custom Login Page Customizer plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the ‘mime_types’ parameter in all versions up to, and including, 3.4.17 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Author-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 • 03/22/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-5191 affects the Branda – White Label WordPress plugin, specifically targeting versions up to and including 3.4.17. This plugin serves as a custom login page customizer and white labeling solution for WordPress environments, making it a critical component in many enterprise and professional WordPress deployments. The flaw resides in the handling of the 'mime_types' parameter within the plugin's administrative interfaces, where inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms fail to properly escape user-supplied data before it is stored and subsequently rendered in web pages. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates as a stored cross-site scripting attack, meaning malicious payloads are permanently stored on the server and executed whenever affected pages are accessed by users with appropriate privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize user input through established security protocols. When administrators or users with Author-level access and above submit data containing malicious script content through the mime_types parameter, the plugin stores this unfiltered input without adequate escaping or encoding. This creates a persistent security risk where the stored malicious code can be executed in the context of any user's browser who accesses pages containing the injected content. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize or incorrectly sanitize input, which directly enables cross-site scripting attacks. The attack vector specifically targets the plugin's administrative interfaces where users can configure various aspects of the white-label customization, including MIME type definitions for file handling.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold within WordPress environments that they can leverage for more sophisticated attacks. An attacker with Author-level privileges can inject malicious scripts that could steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even execute additional payloads that could compromise the entire WordPress installation. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple users with varying privilege levels access the same WordPress instance, as it allows for privilege escalation and persistent access. The stored nature of the XSS means that even if the initial injection is discovered and removed, the malicious code continues to execute for any user who accesses affected pages, creating a long-term security risk.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through plugin updates to versions that properly address the input sanitization issues. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including regular security audits of WordPress plugins, monitoring for unauthorized administrative changes, and implementing content security policies that limit script execution capabilities. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1548.003 which covers abuse of group policy or privilege escalation through compromised administrative accounts. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious input patterns, and establish robust monitoring protocols to identify any unauthorized modifications to plugin configurations. Regular patch management processes should be reinforced to ensure all WordPress plugins are kept up-to-date with the latest security fixes, as this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of timely security updates in maintaining WordPress security postures.