CVE-2024-5708 in WPBakery Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/06/2024
The WPBakery Visual Composer plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the ‘link’ parameter in all versions up to, and including, 7.7 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Author-level access and above, and with post permissions granted by an Administrator, 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 • 03/16/2025
The WPBakery Visual Composer plugin represents one of the most widely used page builders for WordPress installations, providing users with a visual interface to create complex web pages without requiring extensive coding knowledge. This plugin has been integrated into countless WordPress websites across various industries, making its security implications particularly significant. The vulnerability identified in CVE-2024-5708 affects all versions up to and including 7.7, indicating a long-standing issue that has persisted through multiple updates. The plugin's popularity and the broad range of websites it powers means that a vulnerability of this nature could potentially impact thousands of installations simultaneously, creating a substantial attack surface for malicious actors.
The technical flaw manifests through insufficient input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms specifically within the 'link' parameter processing functionality. This parameter is used to handle URL inputs when creating or editing content within the visual composer interface. The vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied input before storing it in the database. When an attacker with Author-level privileges or higher submits a malicious link containing script code, the plugin stores this input without adequate sanitization. The output escaping mechanism also fails to properly encode the stored content when rendered on web pages, allowing malicious scripts to execute in the context of the victim's browser. This represents a classic stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that operates at the application layer and is classified under CWE-79 as improper neutralization of input during web output.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is particularly concerning given the privilege requirements and the potential for widespread execution. Attackers need only Author-level access or higher, which is often granted to content creators, editors, or contributors within WordPress installations. This means that individuals with relatively low-level permissions can exploit the vulnerability, making it more accessible than many other XSS flaws that require administrator-level access. The attack requires the attacker to have post permissions granted by an administrator, which is a common configuration in many WordPress installations where editors and authors are granted permission to create and publish content. When a victim accesses a page containing the maliciously injected script, the code executes in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or further exploitation of the victim's privileges. The vulnerability operates in a way that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for social engineering through malicious links, and could enable lateral movement within compromised WordPress environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through plugin updates to versions that address the sanitization and escaping issues. Organizations should ensure that all WordPress installations running affected versions of WPBakery Visual Composer are updated to the latest stable release. Additionally, implementing input validation at multiple layers can provide defense in depth, including filtering malicious content at the application level and employing content security policies to prevent script execution. Network-level monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious link patterns in user-generated content submissions. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes should be conducted to identify other potential vulnerabilities. The principle of least privilege should be enforced, limiting user permissions to only those necessary for their role. Administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script patterns in URL parameters. Organizations should maintain comprehensive backup strategies to quickly restore systems if compromise occurs, and should implement regular security training for content creators to raise awareness of potential social engineering vectors. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output escaping in web applications, highlighting the critical need for developers to follow secure coding practices and for organizations to maintain up-to-date security measures.