CVE-2024-8239 in Starbox Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/30/2024
The Starbox WordPress plugin before 3.5.3 does not properly render social media profiles URLs in certain contexts, like the malicious user's profile or pages where the starbox shortcode is used, which may be abused by users with at least the contributor role to conduct Stored XSS attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-8239 affects the Starbox WordPress plugin version 3.5.2 and earlier, presenting a significant security risk through improper handling of social media profile URLs. This flaw exists within the plugin's rendering mechanism where user-supplied URLs are not adequately sanitized or escaped before being displayed in web contexts. The issue specifically manifests when social media profile URLs are processed within the plugin's shortcode functionality or user profile displays, creating an environment where malicious input can persist and be executed without proper validation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires minimal privilege levels to exploit, as users with the contributor role can leverage this weakness to compromise the platform.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the Starbox plugin's codebase. When social media profile URLs are stored and subsequently rendered in the plugin's shortcode contexts, the system fails to properly sanitize the URL content before incorporating it into HTML output. This omission creates a classic stored cross-site scripting vulnerability where malicious URLs containing script payloads can be stored in the database and executed whenever the content is rendered to other users. The flaw operates at the intersection of improper input handling and insufficient output sanitization, allowing attackers to inject malicious code that persists across user sessions and page views.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of other users' browsers. This persistent threat enables attackers to perform actions such as stealing user session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or even executing commands on behalf of the compromised users. The contributor role privilege level is particularly concerning because it represents a relatively low barrier to entry for exploitation, potentially allowing malicious actors with access to contributor accounts to establish persistent footholds within WordPress installations. The vulnerability's scope includes all instances where the starbox shortcode is utilized, making it a widespread concern across affected installations.
Security mitigations for CVE-2024-8239 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to version 3.5.3 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerability. Organizations should implement additional defensive measures including input validation for all user-supplied URLs, output escaping for all dynamic content, and regular security audits of third-party plugins. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a fundamental web application security weakness, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege as established in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious URL patterns, while monitoring for unauthorized changes to plugin files or user accounts with contributor privileges. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and output escaping in preventing persistent XSS attacks that can compromise entire web applications.