CVE-2024-6929 in Dynamic Featured Image Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/05/2024
The Dynamic Featured Image plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the ‘dfiFeatured’ parameter in all versions up to, and including, 3.7.0 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 • 03/11/2025
The Dynamic Featured Image plugin for WordPress represents a widely used tool that enables users to manage and display featured images within their content management systems. This particular vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 3.7.0, creating a significant security risk for WordPress installations that utilize this plugin. The flaw manifests through improper input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to adequately process user-supplied data before it gets stored and subsequently executed within the web application's response.
The technical exploitation occurs through the dfiFeatured parameter which serves as an injection vector for malicious scripts. When authenticated users with Contributor-level access or higher submit content containing malicious JavaScript code through this parameter, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before storing it in the database. This stored data then executes whenever any user accesses a page containing the injected content, creating a persistent cross-site scripting vulnerability that can affect any visitor to the compromised website. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's handling of featured image data, where user input is directly incorporated into the page output without proper security measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it enables attackers to perform a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious sites. Contributors and above typically have sufficient privileges to modify content, making this attack vector particularly dangerous as it requires minimal elevation of privileges to exploit. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once injected, malicious scripts persist indefinitely until manually removed by administrators, potentially affecting thousands of users over extended periods. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious content.
Mitigation strategies must focus on immediate plugin updates to versions that address the sanitization issues, as well as implementing additional security measures such as input validation at multiple layers and output escaping mechanisms. Administrators should conduct thorough audits of affected installations to identify and remove any malicious content that may have been injected through this vulnerability. The recommended approach includes upgrading to the latest plugin version, implementing proper access controls, and monitoring user activities for suspicious content modifications. Additional defensive measures such as web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional protection layers, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins and themes.