CVE-2024-5646 in Futurio Extra Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/12/2024
The Futurio Extra plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the ‘header_size’ attribute within the Advanced Text Block widget in all versions up to, and including, 2.0.5 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. 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 • 03/24/2025
The Futurio Extra plugin for WordPress presents a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-5646 affecting versions through 2.0.5. This vulnerability specifically targets the Advanced Text Block widget where the 'header_size' attribute fails to properly sanitize user input. The flaw exists within the plugin's handling of user-supplied data in the WordPress admin interface, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited by authenticated attackers with contributor-level privileges or higher. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient output escaping mechanisms that should have been implemented to prevent malicious script injection.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the Advanced Text Block widget's header_size parameter within the WordPress editor environment. When an authenticated attacker with contributor access or higher modifies this attribute with malicious script content, the input is stored within the WordPress database without proper sanitization. This stored payload becomes executable whenever any user accesses a page containing the affected widget, making it a persistent threat that can affect multiple users over time. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the WordPress content management system's widget rendering functionality, where user-generated content is processed and displayed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with the ability to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, and privilege escalation. An attacker could inject scripts that steal administrator cookies, redirect users to malicious domains, or modify content on the affected website. The vulnerability's persistence means that once exploited, the malicious payload remains active until manually removed from the database, potentially affecting all users who access pages containing the compromised widget. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where administrators may not immediately notice the presence of malicious code.
Security professionals should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of the Futurio Extra plugin where the vulnerability has been addressed, applying the necessary input sanitization patches, and conducting thorough audits of affected websites. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices for input validation and output escaping. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command and control communication and privilege escalation through web application exploitation. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring for suspicious widget modifications and consider restricting contributor-level access to widget configuration options until the vulnerability is fully mitigated.