CVE-2024-9591 in Category and Taxonomy Image Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/22/2024
The Category and Taxonomy Image plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the '_category_image' parameter in versions up to, and including, 1.0.0 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on user supplied attributes. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with editor-level and above permissions to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page. This only affects multi-site installations and installations where unfiltered_html has been disabled.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2025
The Category and Taxonomy Image plugin for WordPress presents a significant security vulnerability classified as CVE-2024-9591, which manifests as a stored cross-site scripting flaw in versions up to and including 1.0.0. This vulnerability specifically targets the '_category_image' parameter and arises from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase. The flaw represents a direct violation of secure coding practices and falls under the CWE-79 category for Cross-Site Scripting, making it a critical concern for WordPress administrators and security professionals.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated attacker possessing editor-level permissions or higher, which significantly limits the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk entirely. Attackers can leverage this weakness to inject arbitrary web scripts into pages that will execute whenever any user accesses the compromised content. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates as a stored XSS attack rather than a reflected one, meaning the malicious payload persists in the database and affects multiple users over time. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for Phishing and T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables persistent malicious code execution within the target environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-9591 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can potentially enable more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. The vulnerability specifically affects multi-site WordPress installations where unfiltered_html has been disabled, creating a targeted attack vector that requires careful consideration of the WordPress configuration. This restriction means that the vulnerability is not universally exploitable but rather requires specific environmental conditions to be present. The attack chain typically involves an authenticated user with sufficient privileges to modify category images, which then allows the injection of malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the latest plugin version if available, or applying custom patches that properly sanitize and escape all user-supplied input before processing. The recommended remediation approach follows security best practices outlined in OWASP Top 10 and the WordPress Security Hardening guidelines, emphasizing proper input validation and output encoding. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing network-level protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious script injection attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper access control mechanisms and privilege separation, as the attack requires elevated permissions to execute successfully. Organizations should also conduct regular security audits of their WordPress plugins and ensure that all third-party components are regularly updated and monitored for security vulnerabilities.