CVE-2024-56261 in Project Showcase Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/02/2025
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in GS Plugins Project Showcase allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Project Showcase: from n/a through 1.1.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-56261 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the GS Plugins Project Showcase plugin, specifically manifesting as a stored XSS vulnerability that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. This weakness resides in the improper neutralization of input during web page generation processes, creating a persistent security risk that can compromise user sessions and data integrity. The vulnerability affects all versions of the Project Showcase plugin from the initial release through version 1.1.1, indicating a long-standing issue that has remained unaddressed in the plugin's codebase.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization and validation of user-supplied input that is subsequently rendered in web page content without proper encoding or filtering mechanisms. When users submit data through plugin interfaces or forms, the application fails to adequately process this input before storing and displaying it, allowing malicious payloads to be permanently embedded within the application's content. This stored nature of the vulnerability means that once an attacker successfully injects malicious script code, it will persistently execute whenever other users view the affected pages, making it particularly dangerous for content management systems where user-generated content is common. The flaw directly maps to CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting vulnerabilities where input is not properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user information, redirect victims to malicious websites, or even modify content within the affected plugin. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to user accounts, execute arbitrary commands on the target system, or establish persistent backdoors through the compromised application. The stored nature of the XSS allows for more sophisticated attack vectors, including the creation of phishing pages that appear legitimate to users while harvesting credentials or other sensitive data. This vulnerability particularly affects WordPress environments where the GS Plugins Project Showcase is installed, as it provides a direct pathway for attackers to compromise the entire website through the vulnerable plugin component. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that this vulnerability can be exploited through various input points within the plugin's functionality, making it difficult to fully mitigate without comprehensive input validation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-56261 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected plugin to the latest version where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation that filters and encodes all user-supplied data before storage and rendering, utilizing established security libraries and frameworks that provide robust protection against XSS attacks. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts, while regular security audits should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other plugins and themes. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block known XSS attack patterns, and establish monitoring procedures to identify potential exploitation attempts. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1059.007 for script injection and T1531 for credential access, making it a significant threat that requires immediate attention to prevent potential compromise of the entire web application environment.