CVE-2024-6224 in Send Email Only on Reply to My Comment Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2024
The Send email only on Reply to My Comment WordPress plugin through 1.0.6 does not have CSRF check in some places, and is missing sanitisation as well as escaping, which could allow attackers to make logged in admin add Stored XSS payloads via a CSRF attack
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-6224 affects the Send email only on Reply to My Comment WordPress plugin version 1.0.6 and earlier, presenting a critical security risk that combines multiple dangerous flaws. This plugin, designed to control email notifications for comment replies, contains insufficient cross-site request forgery protection mechanisms that leave it susceptible to exploitation by malicious actors. The vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to implement proper CSRF tokens in its administrative interfaces, creating a pathway for attackers to execute unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated administrators.
The technical implementation flaw resides in the plugin's handling of user inputs and administrative actions without adequate validation and sanitization processes. Specifically, the plugin lacks proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms that would normally prevent malicious payloads from being stored and executed within the WordPress environment. This absence of input validation creates a perfect storm where attackers can craft malicious requests that bypass security controls and inject stored cross-site scripting payloads into the system. The vulnerability operates through a CSRF attack vector where an attacker tricks a logged-in administrator into executing malicious actions without their knowledge or consent.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching within WordPress environments. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can inject malicious JavaScript code that persists in the plugin's data storage, making it a stored XSS attack rather than a reflected one. This persistent nature means that any administrator who views the affected comment sections or interacts with the plugin's administrative interfaces will execute the malicious code within their browser context. The attack could potentially escalate to full administrative compromise, allowing attackers to extract sensitive information, modify content, or establish persistent backdoors within the WordPress installation. The vulnerability affects the core security model of the WordPress platform by undermining the trust boundary between administrators and the system's backend processes.
The security implications extend beyond simple XSS execution to encompass broader compromise potential within the WordPress ecosystem. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, and CWE-79, which covers Cross-Site Scripting. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566 for phishing techniques, as attackers would typically need to lure administrators into clicking malicious links or visiting compromised sites. The attack chain involves initial compromise through CSRF exploitation followed by XSS payload execution, potentially leading to privilege escalation and persistent access. Organizations using this plugin should immediately implement mitigation strategies including plugin updates, CSRF token implementation, and enhanced input validation processes to prevent exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-6224 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the CSRF and sanitization deficiencies. Administrators should also implement additional defensive measures such as network-level monitoring for suspicious requests, enhanced input validation at multiple layers, and regular security audits of installed plugins. The WordPress security community should also consider implementing more robust plugin review processes to identify and prevent similar vulnerabilities in other third-party components. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their WordPress installations to identify other plugins that may suffer from similar CSRF and XSS vulnerabilities. The incident underscores the critical importance of proper security implementation in WordPress plugins and the necessity of comprehensive testing including security validation of all user input handling mechanisms.