CVE-2024-9653 in Restaurant Menu Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/20/2024
The Restaurant Menu – Food Ordering System – Table Reservation plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Reflected Cross-Site Scripting via the 'action' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 2.4.2 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that execute if they can successfully trick a user into performing an action such as clicking on a link.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-9653 affects the Restaurant Menu – Food Ordering System – Table Reservation plugin for WordPress, a widely used tool for managing restaurant operations through web-based interfaces. This plugin facilitates food ordering and table reservation functionalities for restaurants operating on WordPress platforms, making it a critical component in the digital infrastructure of numerous dining establishments. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's handling of user input through the 'action' parameter, which is processed without adequate sanitization measures. This flaw exists across all versions up to and including 2.4.2, indicating a long-standing issue that has not been properly addressed in the plugin's codebase. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects a plugin that is likely installed on numerous websites, potentially exposing thousands of users to security risks.
The technical nature of this vulnerability constitutes a reflected cross-site scripting flaw that falls under CWE-79, which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation. The vulnerability occurs when the plugin fails to properly sanitize and escape user-provided input from the 'action' parameter before it is reflected back to the user's browser. This insufficient input sanitization combined with inadequate output escaping creates a scenario where malicious scripts can be injected and executed in the context of a user's browser session. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload is embedded in a URL or HTTP request and then reflected back by the server to the victim's browser, making it particularly dangerous for unauthenticated attackers who can leverage this weakness without requiring any authentication credentials. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects the WordPress plugin ecosystem, which is used by millions of websites worldwide, potentially creating a large attack surface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform a range of malicious activities that can compromise user sessions, steal sensitive information, and manipulate the plugin's functionality. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that, when clicked by unsuspecting users, will execute in the user's browser context. This can lead to session hijacking, where attackers gain unauthorized access to user accounts, or the execution of malicious scripts that can redirect users to phishing sites, steal cookies, or perform actions on behalf of the user. The vulnerability also poses risks to the integrity of the restaurant's online operations, as attackers could potentially manipulate order processing, reservation systems, or menu displays. Given that the plugin handles sensitive user information such as reservation details and ordering preferences, the potential for data breaches and privacy violations increases significantly.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-9653 should prioritize immediate action through plugin updates, as the vulnerability is addressed in newer versions of the plugin. Organizations using this plugin should urgently upgrade to the latest available version that contains proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. The implementation of proper input validation should follow established security practices including the use of allowlists for parameter values, proper HTML escaping of output, and the application of Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution. Additionally, network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to detect and block malicious requests targeting this vulnerability. Security monitoring should include regular scanning for vulnerable plugins, and administrators should implement proper access controls and user education to reduce the risk of successful social engineering attacks that could exploit this vulnerability. The remediation process should also involve comprehensive security auditing of all installed WordPress plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of the web application infrastructure.