CVE-2024-8968 in MaxButtons Button Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/20/2024
The WordPress Button Plugin MaxButtons WordPress plugin before 9.8.1 does not sanitise and escape some of its settings, which could allow high privilege users such as admin to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks even when the unfiltered_html capability is disallowed (for example in multisite setup).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/15/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-8968 affects the MaxButtons WordPress plugin version 9.8.1 and earlier, presenting a critical security risk through stored cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. This issue specifically targets high-privilege users such as administrators who possess the necessary capabilities to modify plugin settings. The flaw resides in the plugin's insufficient sanitization and escaping of user-provided input data within its configuration settings, creating an environment where malicious scripts can be persistently stored and executed within the WordPress admin interface.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly validate and sanitize input parameters before storing them in the database. When administrators configure button settings through the plugin's interface, the system does not adequately filter or escape potentially malicious content that could contain script tags or other harmful code sequences. This weakness allows attackers with administrative privileges to inject malicious JavaScript code that gets stored in the plugin's configuration data and subsequently executed whenever the affected settings are rendered or processed. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates even when the WordPress multisite setup has restricted the unfiltered_html capability, which typically prevents non-administrator users from injecting raw HTML or script content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities through the compromised administrative account. An attacker could potentially steal session cookies, modify or delete content, access sensitive data, or even escalate privileges further within the WordPress environment. In a multisite setup where security policies are more strictly enforced, the vulnerability becomes even more dangerous as it bypasses the normal security restrictions that should protect against such attacks. The stored nature of the XSS vulnerability means that the malicious code persists even after the initial injection, creating a long-term threat that can affect multiple users who interact with the affected plugin settings.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content and T1078 for legitimate credential use. Organizations should immediately update to MaxButtons plugin version 9.8.1 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and escaping mechanisms. Additionally, administrators should review and audit existing plugin configurations for any potentially malicious code that may have been injected prior to the patch deployment. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual administrative activities and input patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The recommended mitigation strategy includes implementing proper input validation, output escaping, and regular security audits of plugin configurations to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the WordPress ecosystem.