The expansive digital ecosystem of WordPress supports millions of websites, leveraging countless plugins to boost functionality and user experience. However, this widespread use also presents numerous security risks. A significant vulnerability has recently been discovered in the Email Encoder plugin. Known as CVE-2024-4483, this flaw affects numerous installations, enabling attackers to perform stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks that can lead to account takeovers.
| CVE | CVE-2024-4483 |
| Plugin | Email Encoder < 2.2.2 |
| Critical | Low |
| All Time | 1 142 809 |
| Active installations | 90 000+ |
| Publicly Published | July 11, 2024 |
| Last Updated | June 11, 2024 |
| Researcher | Artyom Krugov |
| OWASP TOP-10 | A7: Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) |
| PoC | Yes |
| Exploit | No |
| Reference | https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2024-4483/ https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/8f2ac76c-f3f8-41f9-a32a-f414825cf6f1/ |
| Plugin Security Certification by CleanTalk |  |
| Logo of the plugin |  |
Timeline
| April 21, 2024 | Plugin testing and vulnerability detection in the Email Encoder have been completed |
| April 21, 2024 | I contacted the author of the plugin and provided a vulnerability PoC with a description and recommendations for fixing |
| July 8, 2024 | Registered CVE-2024-4483 |
Discovery of the Vulnerability
The vulnerability was discovered during a security audit of the Email Encoder plugin. It was found that the plugin did not adequately sanitize user input in certain settings, specifically in the WP_Email_Encoder_Bundle_options[protection_text] parameter. This oversight allows an attacker with administrative privileges to inject malicious JavaScript code, which is then stored and executed whenever the relevant page is loaded.
Understanding of Stored XSS attack’s
XSS is a prevalent security issue where attackers inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. In WordPress, this often occurs through unsanitized input fields that accept HTML or JavaScript code. Examples in the past have included malicious redirects, stealing cookies, or manipulating web page content. The impact of such vulnerabilities can be significant, ranging from data breaches to complete website compromise.
Exploiting the Stored XSS Vulnerability
To exploit this vulnerability in the Email Encoder plugin, an attacker would follow these steps:
POC:
- Go to Settings
- Select An Email Encoder
- To intercept the page
- Insert the payload into the WP_Email_Encoder_Bundle_options[protection_text] parameter
PoC payload:
"><script></script><img src=x onerror=alert(document.domain)>____
Recommendations for Improved Security
To mitigate risks associated with XSS and similar vulnerabilities, website administrators should:
- Update Regularly: Keep all plugins and the WordPress core updated to the latest versions.
- Sanitize Inputs: Ensure that all user inputs are sanitized to prevent malicious data from being saved.
- Use Security Plugins: Implement security plugins that provide firewall, malware scanning, and enhanced authentication features.
- Regular Audits: Conduct regular security audits to identify and fix vulnerabilities.
- Educate Users: Train users with access to the WordPress backend on security best practices and the importance of using strong, unique passwords.
By taking proactive measures to address Stored XSS vulnerabilities like CVE-2024-4483, WordPress website owners can enhance their security posture and safeguard against potential exploitation. Stay vigilant, stay secure.
#WordPressSecurity #StoredXSS #WebsiteSafety #StayProtected #VeryHighVulnerability
Use CleanTalk solutions to improve the security of your website
Artyom k.
