CVE-2024-56302 in ConvertCalculator Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/02/2025
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in ConvertCalculator ConvertCalculator for WordPress allows Stored XSS.This issue affects ConvertCalculator for WordPress: from n/a through 1.1.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-56302 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the ConvertCalculator plugin for WordPress platforms. This weakness falls under the category of improper input neutralization during web page generation, creating a persistent security risk that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability specifically affects versions of the ConvertCalculator plugin ranging from the initial release through version 1.1.1, indicating that the issue has existed for some time within the plugin's development lifecycle. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that malicious payloads are permanently stored on the server and executed whenever affected pages are accessed, rather than requiring immediate interaction with a vulnerable input field.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization and validation of user-supplied input within the plugin's web page generation processes. When users submit data through the plugin's interface, the application fails to properly escape or filter potentially malicious content before storing it in the database or rendering it in web pages. This allows attackers to inject javascript code, html tags, or other malicious scripts that will execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability's classification as stored XSS (CWE-79) indicates that the malicious input is saved and then served to other users, making it particularly dangerous as the attack can persist long after the initial injection. The impact extends beyond simple script execution to potentially enable session hijacking, credential theft, and full browser compromise of affected users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability creates significant risks for WordPress site administrators and their visitors. Attackers can exploit this weakness to steal user sessions, redirect victims to malicious sites, deface websites, or harvest sensitive information from authenticated users. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that even if administrators patch the vulnerability, previously injected malicious content continues to pose a threat to users who have already accessed the compromised pages. This vulnerability particularly affects WordPress installations where the ConvertCalculator plugin is actively used, potentially exposing thousands of sites to coordinated attacks. The risk is amplified when the plugin is used in environments with privileged users or sites handling sensitive data, as successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise through session theft or privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-56302 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the stored XSS vulnerability, as vendors typically release patches that implement proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. System administrators should also implement additional security measures including web application firewalls that can detect and block common XSS attack patterns, regular security audits of plugin installations, and comprehensive input validation policies. The implementation of content security policies (CSP) can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed on affected websites. Security monitoring should include regular scanning for malicious code injection and user behavior analysis to detect anomalous activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular security training for administrators to reduce the risk of successful exploitation through social engineering or misconfiguration attacks.