CVE-2024-10186
📋 TL;DR
This stored XSS vulnerability in the Event post WordPress plugin allows authenticated attackers with contributor-level access or higher to inject malicious scripts into website pages. When users visit compromised pages, the scripts execute in their browsers, potentially stealing credentials or performing unauthorized actions. All WordPress sites using Event post plugin versions up to 5.9.6 are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- WordPress Event post plugin
📦 What is this software?
Event Post by Avecnous
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers could steal administrator credentials, deface websites, redirect users to malicious sites, or install backdoors for persistent access.
Likely Case
Attackers with contributor access inject malicious scripts that steal user session cookies or credentials when visitors view compromised event pages.
If Mitigated
With proper user access controls and content security policies, impact is limited to isolated script execution without access to sensitive data.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires contributor-level WordPress access. Technical details and proof-of-concept are publicly available in vulnerability reports.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 5.9.7
Vendor Advisory: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3182549/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Event post' plugin. 4. Click 'Update Now' if update available. 5. If no update appears, manually download version 5.9.7+ from WordPress repository and replace plugin files.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable vulnerable shortcode
allRemove or disable the events_cal shortcode functionality to prevent exploitation
Add to theme's functions.php: remove_shortcode('events_cal');
Restrict user roles
allTemporarily remove contributor-level posting capabilities until patch is applied
Use WordPress role editor plugin to modify contributor capabilities
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to block inline script execution
- Apply web application firewall rules to detect and block XSS payloads in POST requests
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel > Plugins > Event post. If version is 5.9.6 or lower, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get event-post --field=version (if WP-CLI installed)Verify Fix Applied:
After updating, verify plugin version shows 5.9.7 or higher in WordPress admin plugins list.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to wp-admin with script tags in parameters
- Multiple failed login attempts followed by successful contributor login
Network Indicators:
- Outbound connections to suspicious domains from your WordPress server
- Unusual JavaScript payloads in HTTP POST data
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("events_cal" OR "script" OR "onerror" OR "javascript:")