CVE-2024-3594 - Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Vulnerability in IDonate WordPress Plugin up to v1.9.

A newly discovered vulnerability (CVE-2024-3594) in the IDonate WordPress plugin (versions up to and including 1.9.) has been identified as a security risk. This vulnerability could allow high privilege users like admins to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks, even when the unfiltered_html capability is disallowed (for example, in a multisite setup). This post will discuss the issue in detail, provide code snippets, and offer solutions to address the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Details

The Stored XSS vulnerability is present in the IDonate WordPress plugin settings due to insufficient sanitization and escaping. It creates a security loophole that could be exploited by malicious actors. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, injection of malicious content, and even control of the affected site.

Specifically, the vulnerability can be found in the plugin’s settings page, where certain input values are not sanitized and escaped properly.

Code Snippet

To understand the vulnerability, let’s take a look at some code from the IDonate plugin, specifically in the settings.php file:

$idonate_options = get_option('idonate_settings');

if (isset($_POST['idonateDonationTypes'])) {
    $idonate_options['idonate_donation_types'] = $_POST['idonateDonationTypes'];
    update_option('idonate_settings', $idonate_options);
}

In this snippet, user input from the $_POST['idonateDonationTypes'] variable is directly saved into the plugin's settings without any sanitization or escaping. This unsafe practice allows malicious users to inject potentially harmful code.

Exploit Example

For instance, an attacker could inject malicious JavaScript code into the "idonateDonationTypes" input field, which would subsequently be executed when the affected settings page is viewed by another user. Here's an example of such a malicious payload:

<script>alert("XSS Attack!");</script>

When this payload is executed, it will show an alert box with the message "XSS Attack!" - this is just a simple example, but in reality, the attacker could perform more harmful actions.

For more details about this vulnerability, please refer to the following sources

- CVE Record: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2024-3594
- Official Plugin Repository: https://wordpress.org/plugins/idonate/

Solution

To mitigate this vulnerability, it is strongly recommended that users update their IDonate WordPress plugin to the latest version (v2.. or beyond) as soon as possible. The plugin authors have addressed this security issue by adding proper sanitization and escaping functions for the vulnerable settings input fields.

Additionally, always ensure that your WordPress installation, along with any other plugins and themes, are up to date and maintained regularly. Practice good security measures, such as using strong and unique passwords for all accounts and enabling two-factor authentication.

Conclusion

In summary, the Stored XSS vulnerability within the IDonate plugin poses a significant security risk to affected users. It is essential to take immediate action by updating your plugin to a more secure version and implementing the recommended security measures to protect your site and users from harm.

Timeline

Published on: 05/23/2024 06:15:10 UTC
Last modified on: 05/24/2024 01:15:30 UTC