CVE-2024-53801
📋 TL;DR
This stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in BoldThemes Bold Page Builder allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages that are then executed when other users view those pages. It affects WordPress sites using the Bold Page Builder plugin. All users of affected versions are vulnerable to session hijacking, credential theft, or website defacement.
💻 Affected Systems
- BoldThemes Bold Page Builder WordPress Plugin
📦 What is this software?
Bold Page Builder by Bold Themes
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers could steal administrator credentials, take over the WordPress site, install backdoors, or redirect visitors to malicious sites, potentially compromising the entire web server and user data.
Likely Case
Attackers inject malicious JavaScript to steal user session cookies, perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, or deface website content.
If Mitigated
With proper input validation and output encoding, the malicious scripts would be rendered harmless as text rather than executable code.
🎯 Exploit Status
Stored XSS vulnerabilities are commonly exploited. While no public PoC is confirmed, the vulnerability type and CVSS score suggest exploitation is straightforward for attackers with basic web application testing skills.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 5.2.2 or later
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Bold Page Builder' and check for updates. 4. If update is available, click 'Update Now'. 5. Alternatively, download version 5.2.2+ from WordPress.org and manually update.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Plugin
allTemporarily disable the Bold Page Builder plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate bold-page-builder
Content Security Policy
allImplement strict Content Security Policy headers to mitigate XSS impact
Add 'Content-Security-Policy: default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'' to web server configuration
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict plugin access to trusted administrators only
- Implement web application firewall with XSS protection rules
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin → Plugins → Bold Page Builder → Version. If version is 5.2.1 or lower, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get bold-page-builder --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
After updating, verify the plugin version shows 5.2.2 or higher in WordPress admin panel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to page builder endpoints
- Suspicious JavaScript payloads in page content
- Multiple failed XSS attempts in web server logs
Network Indicators:
- Unexpected outbound connections from user browsers after visiting pages
- Suspicious script tags in HTTP responses
SIEM Query:
source="web_server_logs" AND ("<script>" OR "javascript:" OR "onerror=" OR "onload=") AND uri="*/bold-page-builder/*"