CVE-2024-8274 in WP Booking Calendar Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/30/2024
The WP Booking Calendar plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Reflected Cross-Site Scripting via several parameters from 'timeline_obj' in all versions up to, and including, 10.5 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that execute if they can successfully trick a user into performing an action such as clicking on a link.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2025
The WP Booking Calendar plugin for WordPress represents a widely used solution for managing reservations and bookings on websites, with version 10.5 being particularly vulnerable to reflected cross-site scripting attacks as documented in CVE-2024-8274. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's handling of the 'timeline_obj' parameter, creating a security gap that affects all versions up to and including the identified release. The flaw exists in the plugin's core functionality where user-supplied data is not properly validated or escaped before being rendered in web pages, allowing malicious actors to inject harmful scripts that can execute in the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the plugin's failure to adequately sanitize user input through the timeline_obj parameter, which is typically used to manage booking timelines and calendar views. When this parameter contains malicious script code, the plugin processes it without proper encoding or validation, resulting in reflected XSS conditions where the injected payload is executed when the page containing the malicious input is rendered. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, and represents a classic reflected XSS attack vector that can be exploited through various means including crafted URLs or manipulated form submissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection as it creates potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks that could compromise user sessions, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious websites. Unauthenticated attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious URLs that contain script payloads, which when clicked by unsuspecting users, execute in the victim's browser context with the privileges of the logged-in user. This creates a significant risk for websites using the plugin, as the attack requires minimal privileges to exploit and can affect any user who visits the compromised page, making it particularly dangerous for businesses that rely on user interactions and bookings.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically mapping it to techniques related to initial access through malicious links and execution via web-based attacks. The vulnerability represents a persistent threat that can be exploited in various attack scenarios including phishing campaigns, where attackers craft deceptive links that appear legitimate but contain malicious payloads designed to exploit this specific XSS flaw. Organizations using the WP Booking Calendar plugin should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, proper output escaping, and regular plugin updates to address this vulnerability. The recommended approach involves ensuring that all user-supplied parameters are properly sanitized and that output is consistently escaped according to security best practices, with additional monitoring for suspicious user activity that might indicate exploitation attempts.