CVE-2024-22142
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages generated by Profile Builder Pro, a WordPress plugin. When users visit a specially crafted URL, the scripts execute in their browsers, potentially stealing session cookies or performing unauthorized actions. All WordPress sites using Profile Builder Pro versions up to 3.10.0 are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Profile Builder Pro WordPress Plugin
📦 What is this software?
Profile Builder by Cozmoslabs
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers steal administrator session cookies, gain full control of the WordPress site, install backdoors, deface the site, or steal sensitive user data.
Likely Case
Attackers steal user session cookies to hijack accounts, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform limited unauthorized actions within user privileges.
If Mitigated
With proper input validation and output encoding, malicious scripts are neutralized before reaching users, preventing any exploitation.
🎯 Exploit Status
Reflected XSS typically requires user interaction (clicking a malicious link) but is easy to exploit once the vulnerability is known.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 3.10.1 or later
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find Profile Builder Pro and click 'Update Now'. 4. Verify update to version 3.10.1 or later.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Profile Builder Pro Plugin
allTemporarily disable the vulnerable plugin until patching is possible.
wp plugin deactivate profile-builder-pro
Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF)
allConfigure WAF rules to block XSS payloads targeting Profile Builder Pro endpoints.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict script execution sources.
- Use browser security features like HttpOnly and Secure flags for session cookies.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel > Plugins > Profile Builder Pro version. If version is 3.10.0 or earlier, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get profile-builder-pro --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
After update, confirm Profile Builder Pro version is 3.10.1 or later in WordPress plugins list.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual GET/POST requests to Profile Builder Pro endpoints with script tags or JavaScript payloads in parameters.
- Multiple failed login attempts or unauthorized access from unexpected IPs following suspicious requests.
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests containing <script>, javascript:, or encoded XSS payloads in query strings targeting Profile Builder Pro URLs.
SIEM Query:
source="web_server_logs" AND (uri_path="/wp-content/plugins/profile-builder-pro/" OR uri_path CONTAINS "profile-builder-pro") AND (query_string CONTAINS "<script>" OR query_string CONTAINS "javascript:")🔗 References
- https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/profile-builder-pro/wordpress-profile-builder-pro-plugin-3-10-0-reflected-cross-site-scripting-xss-vulnerability?_s_id=cve
- https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/profile-builder-pro/wordpress-profile-builder-pro-plugin-3-10-0-reflected-cross-site-scripting-xss-vulnerability?_s_id=cve
