CVE-2024-9019 in SecuPress Free Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/28/2025
The SecuPress Free — WordPress Security plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's secupress_check_ban_ips_form shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 2.2.5.3 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on user supplied attributes. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with contributor-level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-9019 affects the SecuPress Free WordPress security plugin, specifically targeting versions up to and including 2.2.5.3. This represents a critical security flaw that exploits a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability within the plugin's secupress_check_ban_ips_form shortcode functionality. The issue stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms that fail to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied attributes before they are processed and rendered within the web application. Attackers with contributor-level access or higher can leverage this vulnerability to inject malicious scripts that will execute whenever any user accesses pages containing the injected content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of shortcode attributes within the plugin's administrative interface. When authenticated users with sufficient privileges submit malicious input through the secupress_check_ban_ips_form shortcode, the plugin fails to adequately sanitize these inputs before storing them in the database. This stored data is then later retrieved and rendered without proper output escaping, creating an environment where malicious scripts can persist and execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's handling of user-supplied attributes, making it particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts that can perform various malicious activities including cookie theft, session hijacking, or redirection to malicious sites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates persistent attack vectors that can affect multiple users within the WordPress environment. Since the vulnerability requires only contributor-level privileges, it represents a significant risk to WordPress installations where multiple users have varying levels of access. The stored nature of the XSS vulnerability means that once an attacker successfully injects malicious code, it will continue to execute against any user who accesses pages containing the compromised content. This persistent threat can be leveraged for extended attack campaigns, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that rely on WordPress for content management and user interaction. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers the use of malicious links or scripts as part of initial access or execution phases.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-9019 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the sanitization and escaping vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish strict input validation policies for all user-supplied data within WordPress environments. Security teams should also consider implementing content security policies and regular security audits of WordPress plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, administrators should review user permissions and implement the principle of least privilege to limit the potential impact of compromised accounts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output escaping as fundamental security practices that should be implemented throughout all web application components, particularly in plugins that handle user input and generate dynamic content.