All WordPress website administrators need to be aware of CVE-2024-9696, a vulnerability that impacts the plugin Rescue Shortcodes, which is used to effectively manage and organize the website content. Specifically, this vulnerability makes it possible for attackers to exploit the 'rescue_tab' shortcode function, which could lead to Stored Cross-Site Scripting (Stored XSS) in all versions up to, and including, 2.8. What does this mean for your website? Today, we will delve into the details of this vulnerability, including the code snippet that could be exploited, examining the links to the original references, and discussing possible exploit details.

Code Snippet

The following code snippet demonstrates how the 'rescue_tab' shortcode function might be exploited due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping:

function rescue_tab_shortcode( $atts, $content = null ) {
    extract( shortcode_atts( array(
        'title' => '',
        'icon'  => '',
    ), $atts ) ];

    $rescue_tab_output = '';
    $rescue_tab_output .= '<div class="tab">' . "\n";
    $rescue_tab_output .= '<input type="radio" id="'.$title.'" name="tab-group-1" >';
    $rescue_tab_output .= '<label for="'.$title.'">' . $title . '</label>';
    $rescue_tab_output .= '<div class="tab-content">';
    $rescue_tab_output .= do_shortcode( $content );
    $rescue_tab_output .= '</div></div>';

    return $rescue_tab_output;
}
add_shortcode( 'rescue_tab', 'rescue_tab_shortcode' );

Original References

This vulnerability (CVE-2024-9696) was originally written about in WPScan Vulnerability Database and the National Vulnerability Database. Additionally, there is a detailed explanation by a security researcher at Securi Blog.

Exploit Details

As mentioned earlier, the 'rescue_tab' shortcode used by the Rescue Shortcodes plugin is vulnerable to Stored XSS attacks. Attackers who have the ability to create or edit content on your website, such as contributors, authors, editors, or administrators, can inject malicious scripts into your page content by exploiting this vulnerability. When other users visit the injected page, the attackers' scripts will execute in their browser, potentially stealing sensitive information or causing other security breaches.

For example, an attacker with contributor-level access and above can inject a script like this

[rescue_tab title="Tab Title" icon="<script>alert('XSS');</script>"]

When other users visit the page with the above script, the script will execute, causing an alert popup with the message “XSS” to appear. While this example is relatively harmless, more sophisticated attackers could use similar methods to steal personal information, compromise accounts, or even hijack your website.

What Can You Do To Protect Your Website?
If you are currently using the Rescue Shortcodes plugin any version up to and including 2.8, it is highly recommended to update the plugin to the latest version as soon as possible to mitigate the risk of this vulnerability. Additionally, keep an eye on plugin updates and potential vulnerabilities, making sure to apply security patches whenever they become available. Regular scanning of your website for malware and monitoring for unusual activity will help you stay one step ahead of attackers and keep both your website and its users safe from malicious intent.

Timeline

Published on: 10/12/2024 09:15:03 UTC
Last modified on: 10/15/2024 12:57:46 UTC