CVE-2024-9116 in Monkee-Boy Essentials Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2024
The Monkee-Boy Essentials plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via SVG File uploads in all versions up to, and including, 1.1 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Author-level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses the SVG file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-9116 affects the Monkee-Boy Essentials plugin for WordPress, representing a critical security flaw that enables stored cross-site scripting attacks through SVG file uploads. This issue exists in all versions up to and including 1.1 of the plugin, making it a widespread concern for WordPress installations that utilize this particular plugin. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's file upload handling process, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited by authenticated attackers who possess at least author-level privileges.
The technical flaw manifests when the plugin processes SVG file uploads without proper validation of the file content or sanitization of embedded script elements. SVG files, while commonly used for vector graphics, can contain executable script code that when improperly handled can lead to XSS attacks. The vulnerability allows attackers to upload malicious SVG files containing embedded JavaScript that will execute in the context of any user who views the uploaded file. This stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious code persists on the server and executes every time the file is accessed, making it particularly dangerous for content management systems where multiple users may view uploaded files.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation. When an authenticated user with author-level access or higher uploads a malicious SVG file, any subsequent access to that file by other users will trigger the execution of the injected scripts. This creates a persistent backdoor mechanism that can be exploited over time to gain unauthorized access to user accounts, steal sensitive information, or manipulate content within the WordPress installation. The vulnerability specifically targets the SVG upload functionality, which is commonly used for adding images, logos, and other graphical elements to WordPress sites.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate plugin updates to versions that address the input sanitization and output escaping deficiencies. Organizations should implement strict file validation mechanisms that reject SVG files containing executable content or embedded scripts, while also ensuring that all uploaded files undergo proper sanitization before being stored on the server. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution, and regular security audits of uploaded files should be conducted to identify and remove malicious content. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that should be addressed through proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level protections and monitoring for suspicious file upload activities to detect potential exploitation attempts.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly concerning given that WordPress authors typically have significant privileges within the content management system, making successful exploitation potentially devastating. The combination of persistent storage with authenticated access requirements means that attackers can establish long-term presence within WordPress installations without requiring additional privileges or complex attack vectors. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors who seek to maintain access to compromised systems over extended periods. Security teams should prioritize patching this vulnerability as a high-priority item and implement comprehensive monitoring to detect any attempts to exploit this flaw through unauthorized file uploads.