CVE-2024-7861 in Misiek Paypal Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/12/2024
The Misiek Paypal WordPress plugin through 1.1.20090324 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 CVE-2024-7861 vulnerability affects the Misiek Paypal WordPress plugin version 1.1.20090324 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that combines multiple dangerous conditions. This vulnerability stems from the absence of Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) protection mechanisms in certain administrative endpoints of the plugin, creating a pathway for attackers to exploit the system through unauthorized administrative actions. The flaw is particularly concerning because it operates within the WordPress admin interface where logged-in administrators have elevated privileges, making the potential impact significantly more severe than typical user-level vulnerabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in proper input validation and output sanitization practices that are fundamental to web application security. The plugin lacks CSRF tokens in critical administrative functions, allowing attackers to craft malicious requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress admin system. Additionally, the absence of proper sanitization and escaping mechanisms means that user-supplied data is directly processed and stored without adequate protection against malicious content. This combination creates a perfect storm for Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks, where malicious JavaScript payloads can be injected into the plugin's administrative interfaces and subsequently executed whenever administrators view affected pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with persistent access to administrative functions through the compromised plugin. When an administrator visits a page containing the stored XSS payload, the malicious script executes within their browser context, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, modify plugin settings, or even install additional malicious software. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal user interaction beyond visiting a compromised page, making it an effective vector for privilege escalation attacks. This flaw directly relates to CWE-352, which describes Cross-Site Request Forgery, and CWE-79, which covers Cross-Site Scripting, demonstrating how multiple security weaknesses compound to create a more severe threat.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the affected plugin to version 1.1.20090325 or later, which should include proper CSRF token implementation and enhanced input sanitization. Administrators should also implement additional security measures such as Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts, and regular monitoring of plugin directories for unauthorized modifications. The vulnerability exemplifies the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of privileged users. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security audits of all installed plugins to identify similar CSRF and XSS vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of their WordPress installations. Given the nature of the flaw, it is recommended that security teams implement network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing stored XSS vulnerabilities in content management systems.