CVE-2024-7860 in Simple Headline Rotator PLugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/12/2024
The Simple Headline Rotator WordPress plugin through 1.0 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 • 03/12/2025
The Simple Headline Rotator WordPress plugin version 1.0 contains critical security vulnerabilities that expose WordPress sites to cross-site scripting attacks through a combination of insufficient cross-site request forgery protection and inadequate input sanitization measures. This vulnerability affects the plugin's administrative interfaces where it fails to implement proper CSRF token validation mechanisms, creating a pathway for authenticated attackers to execute malicious payloads. The absence of input sanitization and output escaping functions creates an environment where attackers can inject malicious scripts that persist in the database and execute whenever affected pages are loaded.
The technical flaw manifests in the plugin's handling of administrative requests where CSRF protection is either completely absent or improperly implemented. When administrators access certain plugin interfaces, the system does not validate that requests originate from legitimate sources within the same session, allowing attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated users. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-352, which defines Cross-Site Request Forgery as a weakness where applications fail to validate the origin of requests, and CWE-79, which addresses Cross-Site Scripting due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. The combination of these weaknesses creates a persistent threat where malicious scripts can be stored in the database and executed in the context of other users' browsers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it allows attackers to escalate privileges and potentially gain full administrative control over affected WordPress installations. When stored XSS payloads execute in admin contexts, they can manipulate the WordPress admin interface, steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even modify plugin configurations to maintain persistence. This vulnerability affects the principle of least privilege and can compromise the integrity of the entire WordPress ecosystem, particularly since the plugin's administrative interfaces are often used for critical site management functions. The attack vector leverages the ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and control through script execution and T1548.001 for privilege escalation through administrative access.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper CSRF protection mechanisms throughout the plugin's administrative interfaces, including the generation and validation of unique tokens for each user session. Security hardening measures must include comprehensive input sanitization using WordPress's built-in sanitization functions and proper output escaping before rendering any user-provided content. Plugin developers should adopt the principle of defense in depth by implementing multiple layers of protection including nonce validation, proper access controls, and regular security audits. Organizations should also consider immediate patching of the plugin if available, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious requests, and monitoring for unusual administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to WordPress security guidelines to prevent such persistent threats that can undermine the security posture of entire web applications.