CVE-2024-56288 in WP Docs Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/07/2025
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Fahad Mahmood WP Docs allows Stored XSS.This issue affects WP Docs: from n/a through 2.2.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-56288 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the WP Docs plugin for WordPress platforms. This stored XSS vulnerability arises from inadequate input sanitization during web page generation processes, creating a persistent security risk that can affect multiple users. The flaw specifically impacts versions of WP Docs ranging from the initial release through version 2.2.1, indicating a long-standing issue that has not been adequately addressed in the plugin's development lifecycle.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly neutralize user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages. When malicious actors submit specially crafted payloads through the plugin's input fields, these inputs are stored within the application's database and subsequently rendered in web pages without appropriate sanitization or encoding measures. This stored approach to XSS allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers when they view affected pages, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can persist long after the initial injection.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to WordPress site administrators and their visitors. Attackers can leverage this flaw to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious sites, or extract sensitive information from the affected systems. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once injected, malicious payloads can affect multiple users over extended periods, potentially compromising user data and system integrity. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications.
The impact extends beyond immediate security concerns to include potential compliance violations and reputational damage for affected organizations. Security frameworks such as the ATT&CK framework classify this vulnerability under the 'Command and Control' and 'Initial Access' phases, as attackers can establish persistent access through the XSS vector and later use compromised sessions for further exploitation. Organizations utilizing WP Docs plugin versions within the affected range face heightened risk of data breaches and unauthorized system access, particularly in environments where users have administrative privileges or handle sensitive information.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of the WP Docs plugin to the latest version that addresses this vulnerability. System administrators should implement input validation and output encoding measures to prevent similar issues in other custom applications. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection layers against XSS attacks, while regular security audits of web applications should include thorough testing for input sanitization vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider deploying web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability class.