CVE-2024-8790 in Social Share with Floating Bar Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/18/2024
The Social Share With Floating Bar plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Reflected Cross-Site Scripting due to the use of add_query_arg without appropriate escaping on the URL in all versions up to, and including, 1.0.3. 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 • 03/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-8790 affects the Social Share With Floating Bar plugin for WordPress, representing a critical security flaw that exposes users to reflected cross-site scripting attacks. This vulnerability exists within the plugin's handling of URL parameters and demonstrates a fundamental failure in input validation and output escaping practices. The flaw specifically manifests when the plugin utilizes the add_query_arg function without implementing proper sanitization measures, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject harmful scripts into web pages. The vulnerability impacts all versions of the plugin up to and including version 1.0.3, indicating that a significant portion of users may be exposed to this risk without awareness.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's improper handling of user-supplied input within URL parameters. When the add_query_arg function processes query string arguments, it fails to apply adequate escaping mechanisms before incorporating these parameters into the final URL construction. This oversight creates a reflected XSS vector where malicious payloads can be embedded in URLs and executed when users navigate to affected pages. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication from the attacker, making it accessible to any user who can influence URL parameters. The reflected nature of the attack means that the malicious script is injected into the page through the URL parameter and then executed by the victim's browser when the page loads, without requiring any persistent storage of the malicious code.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WordPress website administrators and their visitors. Unauthenticated attackers can craft malicious URLs that, when clicked by unsuspecting users, would execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of the victim's browser session. This could enable attackers to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of users, redirect users to malicious sites, or even install malware on compromised systems. The impact extends beyond individual user compromise to potentially affect entire websites, especially those with high user engagement where social sharing features are prominently displayed. The floating bar functionality of the plugin makes it particularly susceptible to exploitation since users are more likely to interact with these elements, increasing the attack surface and potential for successful exploitation.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications. This categorization emphasizes the fundamental nature of the issue as a failure to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into web page content. The ATT&CK framework would classify this vulnerability under T1566, specifically the technique of "Phishing with Social Engineering", as attackers could leverage this flaw to create convincing malicious URLs that appear legitimate. The lack of authentication requirements for exploitation makes this particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently engage with social sharing features, as the attack vector becomes more accessible through normal user behavior patterns. Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability through plugin updates, as the attack surface is broad and the potential for exploitation is high.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate updating of the Social Share With Floating Bar plugin to the latest available version that addresses this vulnerability. System administrators should also implement additional security measures such as input validation on web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious URL patterns. Regular security audits of installed WordPress plugins should be conducted to identify other potential vulnerabilities that may exist in the plugin ecosystem. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper output escaping and input validation in web applications, particularly when dealing with URL parameters that may be influenced by external users. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policies to add an additional layer of protection against script injection attacks, though this should not be considered a replacement for proper input sanitization but rather a supplementary security measure.