CVE-2024-9454 in PriPre Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2024
The PriPre plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via SVG File uploads in all versions up to, and including, 0.4.11 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 • 03/03/2025
The CVE-2024-9454 vulnerability affects the PriPre plugin for WordPress, a widely used tool for creating and managing presentations within the WordPress ecosystem. This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that allows authenticated attackers with Author-level privileges or higher to execute malicious code through carefully crafted SVG file uploads. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's file handling processes, creating a persistent cross-site scripting attack vector that can compromise user sessions and potentially lead to full system compromise.
The technical flaw manifests in the plugin's failure to properly sanitize SVG file content before storing and serving these files to users. When an authenticated attacker uploads a malicious SVG file, the plugin does not adequately filter or escape potentially dangerous elements such as script tags, event handlers, or embedded JavaScript code. This insufficient sanitization allows attackers to embed malicious code within the SVG file itself, which then executes whenever any user accesses the file through the WordPress interface. The vulnerability specifically targets the SVG upload functionality, making it particularly dangerous as SVG files are often used for images, logos, and other visual elements that are frequently accessed by multiple users.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for WordPress sites using the PriPre plugin, particularly those with multiple users or contributors who may have Author-level access. The attack requires minimal privileges to exploit, as any user with Author-level permissions or higher can leverage this vulnerability. Once exploited, the stored XSS can be used to steal user session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, deface content, or even escalate privileges within the WordPress environment. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that the malicious code remains active until the compromised SVG file is manually removed from the system, potentially affecting all users who access the vulnerable files.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates how insufficient output escaping can create persistent security weaknesses. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 (Phishing via Service) and T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript) as attackers can use the XSS to execute malicious JavaScript and potentially establish persistent access to user sessions. Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including plugin updates to version 0.4.12 or later, implementing additional input validation for SVG uploads, and conducting security audits of existing SVG files to identify and remove potentially malicious content. Regular monitoring of user upload activities and implementing content security policies can also help detect and prevent exploitation attempts.