CVE-2024-9416 in Modula Image Gallery Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/03/2025
The Modula Image Gallery plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's bundled FancyBox JavaScript library (versions <= 5.0.36) 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-9416 affects the Modula Image Gallery plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions up to and including 5.0.36. This issue represents a critical security flaw that exploits the plugin's bundled FancyBox JavaScript library, creating a pathway for persistent malicious code execution within WordPress environments. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms that fail to properly validate or escape user-supplied attributes before they are processed and rendered within web pages.
The technical flaw manifests through stored cross-site scripting attacks where authenticated attackers possessing contributor-level privileges or higher can inject malicious scripts into the plugin's functionality. These scripts become permanently stored within the application's database and execute whenever legitimate users access pages containing the injected content. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of improper input validation and output encoding, which are fundamental security principles that directly correlate to CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting'). This weakness allows attackers to manipulate the application's behavior by injecting malicious code that executes in the context of other users' browsers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including credential theft, session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the WordPress environment. Since the vulnerability requires only contributor-level access, it represents a significant risk to WordPress sites where multiple users have editing privileges, potentially allowing attackers to compromise the entire site or gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. The stored nature of the XSS vulnerability means that once injected, malicious scripts persist until manually removed, creating a long-term security risk for all users who access affected pages.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, where attackers can leverage the stored XSS to deliver malicious payloads that compromise user sessions or redirect them to malicious sites. Organizations using the affected plugin version face a heightened risk of successful attacks, particularly in environments where user permissions are not strictly managed or where contributors have elevated privileges. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output escaping in web applications, as outlined in OWASP Top Ten categories related to injection flaws and cross-site scripting vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the stored XSS vulnerability in the FancyBox library, while also implementing additional security measures such as strict input validation for all user-supplied content, regular security auditing of third-party components, and monitoring for suspicious user activities. Organizations should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, conducting regular security assessments of WordPress plugins, and maintaining updated security baselines that enforce proper privilege management and access controls. The vulnerability underscores the necessity of comprehensive security testing for all components within web applications, particularly those that handle user-generated content or integrate third-party libraries that may introduce security risks.