CVE-2024-5485 in SureTriggers Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/04/2024
The SureTriggers – Connect All Your Plugins, Apps, Tools & Automate Everything! plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's Trigger Link shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 1.0.47 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 • 03/26/2025
The SureTriggers WordPress plugin presents a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that affects versions through 1.0.47, creating a significant security risk for WordPress installations. This vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's Trigger Link shortcode functionality, which allows users to create automated workflows between different plugins and applications. The flaw arises from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms that fail to properly validate or escape user-supplied attributes before rendering them in web pages. Security researchers have identified this issue as a direct consequence of insufficient data validation practices within the plugin's core functionality.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated attacker with contributor-level privileges or higher, which represents a concerning privilege escalation risk since contributors typically have limited capabilities within WordPress systems. Once authenticated, attackers can leverage the Trigger Link shortcode to inject malicious JavaScript code into the plugin's configuration parameters. This stored payload remains persistent within the WordPress database and executes whenever any user accesses a page containing the vulnerable shortcode, effectively creating a server-side code injection vector. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including credential theft, session hijacking, and data exfiltration. The stored nature of the XSS payload means that the attack can persist across multiple user sessions and page views, making it particularly dangerous for environments with multiple contributors or administrators. Attackers can craft malicious links that appear legitimate to unsuspecting users, potentially leading to widespread compromise of the WordPress installation. The vulnerability affects not only individual users but also the broader WordPress ecosystem, as compromised contributors can serve as stepping stones for further attacks within the organization's digital infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching to version 1.0.48 or later, which addresses the input sanitization and output escaping deficiencies. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as restricting contributor privileges to only essential functions, implementing content security policies to limit script execution, and monitoring for suspicious shortcode usage within the WordPress admin interface. Security teams should conduct thorough audits of all installed plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities and establish automated scanning processes to detect potential XSS flaws. The ATT&CK framework suggests implementing network segmentation and user access controls as additional defensive measures, while the CWE guidelines recommend comprehensive input validation and output encoding to prevent similar issues in future development cycles.