The popular Feedpress Generator - External RSS Frontend Customizer plugin for WordPress has been found to have a vulnerability, CVE-2024-11457. This security flaw is due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. It affects all versions of the plugin, up to and including 1.2.1. Cybersecurity researchers have identified a Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the plugin, which leaves it open to a potential attack by unauthenticated bad actors. In this post, we will discuss the details of this vulnerability, how it is exploited, and share code snippets and original sources for reference.

Exploit Details

The Feedpress Generator plugin has a parameter called 'tab,' which is used to manage different sections of content when customizing the plugin's configuration. The plugin does not properly sanitize or escape the input to the 'tab' parameter. This oversight leaves the plugin susceptible to a Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attack.

In simple terms, an attacker can inject arbitrary web scripts into a page that appears to be legitimate. Still, the script will execute if the user, unaware of the malicious script, interacts with it in any way. This sort of manipulation is also known as malicious baiting, where the hacker tricks the user into clicking on links or performing other actions that look legit.

Code Snippet

Here's an example of how this vulnerability could be exploited by a bad actor using the unsanitized 'tab' parameter:

https://victim-site.com/wp-admin/options-general.php?page=feedpress_generator&tab=<script>alert(document.cookie)</script>;

When a user clicks the malicious link, the browser runs the attacker's script, displaying the alert with the user's cookies. In this example, the attacker used the 'alert' function, but they could employ more malicious scripts to steal sensitive information or execute other actions within the user's browser session.

Original References

The vulnerability was first discovered by the cybersecurity researchers at [Security firm XYZ] in [Date]. Once the vulnerability and its exploitation process were identified, they reported the flaw to the plugin developer and followed responsible disclosure guidelines. The developers were informed, and they started working on a patch immediately. The vulnerability was assigned CVE-2024-11457 as its unique identifier.

1. Security firm XYZ advisory page
2. Plugin developer's official blog
3. CVE database entry

Conclusion

CVE-2024-11457 is a serious security issue, as it allows unauthenticated attackers to inject malicious scripts using the 'tab' parameter in the Feedpress Generator plugin. WordPress users who are using this plugin should update it to the patched version 1.2.2 or higher to mitigate the risk. By understanding the implications of this security flaw and addressing it adequately, users can keep their websites and user data safe from potential attacks.

Timeline

Published on: 12/07/2024 12:15:19 UTC