CVE-2024-6797 in DL Robots.txt Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/16/2025
The DL Robots.txt WordPress plugin through 1.2 does not sanitise and escape some of its settings, which could allow high privilege users such as admin to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks even when the unfiltered_html capability is disallowed (for example in multisite setup).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2026
The CVE-2024-6797 vulnerability affects the DL Robots.txt WordPress plugin version 1.2 and earlier, presenting a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw that undermines web application security. This vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's handling of user settings, where insufficient sanitization and escaping of input data creates persistent XSS attack vectors. The flaw is particularly concerning because it allows users with administrative privileges to inject malicious scripts that can execute in the context of other users' browsers, potentially compromising sensitive data and system integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly validate and escape user-supplied input within its administrative settings interface. When administrators configure the plugin's robots.txt settings, the input values are stored in the database without adequate sanitization processes. This oversight creates a persistent vulnerability where malicious scripts injected during configuration can be executed whenever the affected pages are loaded, regardless of standard security measures such as the unfiltered_html capability restriction. The vulnerability becomes particularly dangerous in multisite WordPress environments where administrative privileges are commonly granted and security controls may be more complex.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive administrative functions and user data. High-privilege users with admin capabilities can leverage this flaw to inject malicious JavaScript code that could redirect users to phishing sites, steal session cookies, or even execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious scripts persist indefinitely until manually removed, creating ongoing security risks that can affect multiple users over extended periods. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and represents a significant weakness in the plugin's input validation and output encoding mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-6797 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the sanitization issues, while also implementing additional security measures such as regular input validation checks and output escaping routines. Organizations should conduct thorough security audits of all installed plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities, particularly in administrative interfaces where user input is processed. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1548.005 which covers Abuse of Functionality, as it represents an abuse of legitimate plugin functionality to execute malicious code. Administrators should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers and monitoring for unusual administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts, while ensuring that user privilege levels are appropriately restricted according to the principle of least privilege.