CVE-2024-5964 in Zenon Lite Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/18/2024
The Zenon Lite theme for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the ‘url’ parameter within the theme's Button shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 1.9 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 • 03/18/2025
The Zenon Lite WordPress theme presents a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability through its Button shortcode implementation, specifically targeting the 'url' parameter. This flaw affects all versions up to and including 1.9, creating a significant security risk for WordPress installations that utilize this theme. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and insufficient output escaping mechanisms within the theme's shortcode processing functionality, allowing malicious actors to inject persistent malicious scripts into the application's content. Attackers with Contributor-level privileges or higher can exploit this weakness to compromise the theme's user-facing interfaces and potentially escalate their access within the WordPress environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the Button shortcode's 'url' parameter, which fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input before storing it within the WordPress database. When authenticated users access pages containing the maliciously injected content, the stored scripts execute in their browsers, creating a persistent XSS attack vector. This stored nature means that the malicious code remains embedded within the website's content and executes automatically whenever affected pages are viewed, rather than requiring users to click on specific links or perform additional actions. The vulnerability specifically impacts the theme's shortcode processing system, where the 'url' parameter is directly incorporated into rendered HTML without appropriate security measures to prevent script injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to user sessions and sensitive data within the WordPress environment. Contributors and higher-level users typically have the ability to create and modify content, making this a particularly dangerous flaw since it can be exploited through legitimate content creation workflows. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious scripts persist across multiple user sessions and can affect any user who accesses the compromised pages, including administrators and other privileged users who may view the content. This creates a persistent threat that can be leveraged for session hijacking, data exfiltration, or further exploitation of the WordPress installation.
Organizations using the Zenon Lite theme should immediately implement mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, including updating to the latest available version of the theme that contains proper input sanitization and output escaping measures. The recommended approach involves applying the vendor-provided security patch that addresses the specific input validation issues within the Button shortcode implementation. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing content security policies and monitoring user-generated content for suspicious scripts, particularly within areas where contributors have editing privileges. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws due to insufficient input sanitization, and represents a significant concern for the ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and persistence tactics. Organizations should also review their user access controls to limit contributor privileges where possible, reducing the attack surface for this specific vulnerability.