CVE-2024-6705 in RegLevel Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/18/2024
The RegLevel plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via admin settings in all versions up to, and including, 1.2.1 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with administrator-level permissions and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page. This only affects multi-site installations and installations where unfiltered_html has been disabled.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/18/2025
The RegLevel plugin for WordPress presents a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that compromises the security of affected installations. This vulnerability exists within the plugin's admin settings functionality and affects all versions up to and including 1.2.1, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited by attackers with administrator-level privileges or higher. The flaw stems from inadequate input sanitization measures and insufficient output escaping mechanisms that fail to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied data before processing. The vulnerability specifically targets multi-site WordPress installations where the unfiltered_html capability has been disabled, making these environments particularly susceptible to exploitation. Attackers can leverage this weakness to inject malicious scripts that execute whenever any user accesses pages containing the injected content, creating a persistent threat that can affect multiple users within the compromised installation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which classifies stored cross-site scripting as a form of injection attack where malicious scripts are stored on the server and executed when accessed by other users. This represents a sophisticated attack vector that operates through the plugin's administrative interface, where legitimate administrators can unknowingly introduce malicious code into the system. The vulnerability's impact is amplified in multi-site environments because the injected scripts can affect multiple WordPress installations within the same network, potentially compromising an entire organization's WordPress infrastructure. The requirement for authenticated access with administrator privileges or higher means that the attack surface is limited to privileged users, but this also makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it leverages legitimate administrative access to create persistent threats.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including credential theft, session hijacking, and data exfiltration. The stored nature of the XSS vulnerability means that the injected scripts remain active even after the initial exploitation, creating a persistent backdoor that can be used for ongoing surveillance or attack activities. Multi-site installations face heightened risk because a single compromised plugin can affect all sites within the network, potentially compromising the entire WordPress ecosystem. The restriction to installations where unfiltered_html has been disabled actually creates a false sense of security, as administrators may believe their systems are protected when they remain vulnerable to this specific attack vector. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output escaping in web applications, as the failure to properly sanitize user input creates opportunities for attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of legitimate users' browsers.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The most effective immediate solution involves upgrading to a patched version of the RegLevel plugin, as this resolves the underlying input sanitization and output escaping deficiencies. Organizations should also implement additional security measures including regular security audits of installed plugins, monitoring for unauthorized administrative changes, and implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious script injection attempts. The vulnerability highlights the necessity of following security best practices such as the principle of least privilege, where administrative permissions are granted only when necessary, and regular security training for administrators to recognize potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms at the application level can prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other components of the WordPress installation. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1566, which involves the exploitation of vulnerabilities to gain initial access or maintain persistence, making it a critical target for security teams to address through both patch management and proactive monitoring approaches.