CVE-2024-13470 – This vulnerability allows authenticated WordPre... (How to Fix)

📋 TL;DR

This vulnerability allows authenticated WordPress users with contributor-level access or higher to inject malicious scripts into pages using the Ninja Forms plugin's shortcode. The scripts are stored and execute whenever users visit the compromised pages, enabling cross-site scripting attacks. All WordPress sites using vulnerable versions of the Ninja Forms plugin are affected.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Ninja Forms - Contact Form Builder for WordPress

Versions: All versions up to and including 3.8.24

Operating Systems: All operating systems running WordPress

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: Requires WordPress installation with Ninja Forms plugin. Contributor-level access or higher needed for exploitation.

📦 What is this software?

Ninja Forms by Ninjaforms

View all CVEs affecting Ninja Forms →

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Attackers could steal administrator credentials, perform session hijacking, deface websites, redirect users to malicious sites, or install backdoors for persistent access.

🟠

Likely Case

Attackers with contributor accounts inject malicious scripts to steal user session cookies, perform phishing attacks, or modify page content.

🟢

If Mitigated

With proper user access controls and content security policies, impact is limited to isolated script execution without broader system compromise.

🌐 Internet-Facing: HIGH

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: LIKELY

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: LOW

Exploitation requires authenticated access but is technically simple once attacker has contributor-level credentials.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: 3.8.25 and later

Vendor Advisory: https://wordpress.org/plugins/ninja-forms/#developers

Restart Required: No

Instructions:

1. Log into WordPress admin panel
2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins
3. Find Ninja Forms plugin
4. Click 'Update Now' if available
5. Or manually download version 3.8.25+ from WordPress.org
6. Upload and replace existing plugin files

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Restrict User Roles

all

Limit contributor and author roles to trusted users only

Implement Content Security Policy

all

Add CSP headers to restrict script execution sources

Add to .htaccess: Header set Content-Security-Policy "script-src 'self'"
Or add to WordPress functions.php: header("Content-Security-Policy: script-src 'self'");

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Disable the Ninja Forms plugin entirely until patched
Implement strict user access controls and monitor contributor-level accounts

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check WordPress admin → Plugins → Ninja Forms → Version. If version is 3.8.24 or lower, you are vulnerable.

Check Version:

wp plugin list --name=ninja-forms --field=version

Verify Fix Applied:

After updating, verify version shows 3.8.25 or higher in WordPress plugins list.

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Unusual shortcode modifications in post/page edits
Multiple failed login attempts followed by successful contributor login
Suspicious script tags in page content

Network Indicators:

Unexpected external script loads from form pages
Suspicious outbound connections after visiting form pages

SIEM Query:

source="wordpress.log" AND ("shortcode" OR "ninja-forms") AND ("update" OR "edit") AND user_role="contributor"

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2024-13470

CVSS v3 Score: 6.4 (MEDIUM)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

CWE: CWE-79

EPSS Score: 0.11% exploit probability (29.8th percentile)

Published: January 30, 2025

Last Updated: February 4, 2025

🔗 References

📤 Share & Export

📄 Export Markdown 📋 Export JSON

🔗 Related Vulnerabilities

If you're affected by CVE-2024-13470, you might also want to check these: