CVE-2024-7355 in Organization Chart Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/07/2024
The Organization chart plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the ‘title_input’ and 'node_description' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 1.5.0 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page. By default, this can only be exploited by administrators, but the ability to use and configure charts can be extended to subscribers.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/15/2025
The CVE-2024-7355 vulnerability affects the Organization chart plugin for WordPress, representing a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw that undermines the security posture of affected installations. This vulnerability exists within the plugin's handling of user input parameters, specifically targeting the 'title_input' and 'node_description' fields that are processed during chart creation and modification operations. The flaw allows authenticated attackers with subscriber-level privileges or higher to inject malicious scripts that persist in the database and execute whenever affected pages are rendered to other users. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it operates at the application layer, where user-generated content is processed and stored, creating a persistent threat vector that can affect multiple users simultaneously.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and insufficient output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase. When users submit data through the affected parameters, the plugin fails to properly validate or sanitize the input before storing it in the WordPress database. Additionally, the plugin does not implement proper HTML escaping when rendering stored content back to users, creating the conditions for malicious scripts to execute in the context of other users' browsers. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws resulting from insufficient output escaping, and represents a classic case of stored XSS where malicious payloads are permanently stored and executed during subsequent page requests. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges, as it only necessitates subscriber-level access or higher, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user permissions are not strictly enforced.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-7355 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. When exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to inject JavaScript code that can manipulate the browser environment, potentially redirecting users to malicious sites, stealing cookies, or executing commands on behalf of the victim. The ability to extend chart configuration capabilities to subscribers significantly amplifies the threat, as it provides more attack surface for exploitation. This vulnerability can be leveraged to create persistent backdoors within the WordPress installation, as attackers can inject scripts that maintain access across multiple user sessions. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious code remains active until manually removed from the database, creating a long-term threat vector that can affect numerous users over extended periods.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including plugin updates to versions that address the XSS flaw, proper input validation on all user-submitted data, and enhanced output escaping mechanisms. The recommended approach involves upgrading to the latest plugin version that includes proper sanitization and escaping controls, while also implementing network-level protections such as web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads. Security teams should conduct thorough audits of all user accounts with chart creation privileges, particularly those granted to subscribers, and consider implementing additional access controls to limit the scope of potential exploitation. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would place it within the credential access and persistence domains, as it enables attackers to maintain access through stored malicious scripts and potentially harvest user credentials through session manipulation techniques. Regular security monitoring and input validation testing should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other plugin components or custom WordPress modifications.