CVE-2024-5796 in Infinite Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/28/2024
The Infinite theme for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the ‘project_url’ parameter in all versions up to, and including, 1.1.2 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 • 05/10/2026
The Infinite theme for WordPress represents a critical security vulnerability through its susceptibility to stored cross-site scripting attacks via the project_url parameter. This vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 112 and demonstrates a fundamental flaw in input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the theme's codebase. The security weakness stems from inadequate sanitization of user-provided input data, specifically targeting the project_url parameter that is processed and stored within the WordPress environment. Attackers with Contributor-level access or higher can exploit this vulnerability to inject malicious scripts that persist in the database and execute whenever affected pages are accessed by other users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when user input containing malicious script code is accepted through the project_url parameter without proper validation or sanitization. This stored data is then rendered on pages without adequate output escaping, creating an environment where the injected scripts execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it requires only Contributor-level privileges, making it accessible to users who typically have limited administrative capabilities but can still cause significant harm through persistent script injection attacks. This weakness directly aligns with CWE-79, which identifies cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as a critical concern in web application security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious sites. When authenticated users access pages containing the stored malicious scripts, their browsers execute the injected code, potentially compromising their sessions and allowing attackers to escalate privileges or access sensitive data. The persistent nature of stored XSS attacks means that the malicious scripts remain active until manually removed from the database, creating ongoing security risks for all users who encounter the affected content. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering through malicious content injection.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output sanitization measures. Theme developers must ensure all user-provided input undergoes strict validation using whitelisting approaches and proper escaping before storage or output. The WordPress theme should implement proper sanitization functions that remove or encode potentially dangerous characters and script tags from user input. Additionally, access controls should be reviewed to ensure that users with Contributor-level privileges cannot inject content that could compromise other users. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify and address similar vulnerabilities in other theme components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top 10 and the principle of least privilege in web application development.