CVE-2024-5090
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows authenticated WordPress users with contributor-level access or higher to inject malicious scripts into pages using the SiteOrigin Blog Widget. The scripts execute whenever users view the compromised pages, enabling attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users, or deface websites. All WordPress sites using the SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle plugin up to version 1.61.1 are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle for WordPress
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers could steal administrator session cookies, take over the WordPress site, install backdoors, or redirect visitors to malicious sites, potentially compromising all site data and user information.
Likely Case
Attackers with contributor access inject malicious scripts to steal user session cookies, deface pages, or redirect users to phishing sites, leading to data theft and reputational damage.
If Mitigated
With proper input validation and output escaping, the vulnerability is prevented, and even if exploited, web application firewalls and content security policies could block malicious script execution.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access (contributor or higher), but the vulnerability is straightforward to exploit once access is obtained.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.61.2
Vendor Advisory: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3098819/so-widgets-bundle
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle' and click 'Update Now'. 4. Verify the plugin version is 1.61.2 or higher.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable the SiteOrigin Blog Widget
allTemporarily disable the vulnerable widget to prevent exploitation while planning the update.
Navigate to WordPress Appearance > Widgets, remove any SiteOrigin Blog Widget instances
Implement Content Security Policy (CSP)
linuxAdd CSP headers to restrict script execution sources, mitigating XSS impact.
Add to .htaccess: Header set Content-Security-Policy "default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'"
Or configure in web server settings
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict user roles: Remove contributor-level access from untrusted users, limiting who can exploit the vulnerability.
- Install a web application firewall (WAF) with XSS protection to block malicious payloads before they reach the application.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel: Plugins > Installed Plugins, find SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle and verify if version is 1.61.1 or lower.Check Version:
wp plugin list --name='SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle' --field=version (if WP-CLI is installed)Verify Fix Applied:
After updating, confirm the plugin version shows as 1.61.2 or higher in the WordPress plugins list.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to WordPress admin-ajax.php or widget update endpoints from contributor-level users
- Log entries showing script tags or JavaScript code in widget attribute fields
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests containing malicious script payloads in parameters like 'attributes' or widget-related fields
- Unexpected outbound connections from the WordPress site to external domains after page loads
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("admin-ajax.php" OR "widget") AND ("script" OR "javascript:" OR "onerror=" OR "onload=")🔗 References
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3098819/so-widgets-bundle
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/2878de45-0123-4e07-bfec-015b36b11d01?source=cve
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3098819/so-widgets-bundle
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/2878de45-0123-4e07-bfec-015b36b11d01?source=cve
