CVE-2024-24866: Biteship WordPress Plugin XSS Vulnerability

CVE-2024-24866 Overview

CVE-2024-24866 is a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Biteship WordPress plugin, marketed as Biteship: Plugin Ongkos Kirim Kurir Instant, Reguler, Kargo. The plugin fails to properly neutralize user-supplied input during web page generation [CWE-79]. All versions from unspecified initial releases through 2.2.24 are affected. An unauthenticated attacker can craft a malicious URL that executes arbitrary JavaScript in a victim's browser session when the victim clicks the link. The flaw was published to the National Vulnerability Database on February 5, 2024.

Critical Impact

Reflected XSS enables attackers to execute JavaScript in the context of a victim's session, potentially stealing cookies, hijacking authenticated sessions, or redirecting users to attacker-controlled infrastructure.

Affected Products

• Biteship: Plugin Ongkos Kirim Kurir Instant, Reguler, Kargo for WordPress
• All versions from initial release through 2.2.24
• WordPress sites using the Biteship shipping cost plugin for Indonesian courier integration

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-02-05 - CVE-2024-24866 published to NVD
• 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-24866

Vulnerability Analysis

The Biteship plugin processes HTTP request parameters and reflects them back into rendered HTML output without adequate encoding or sanitization. When a victim loads a URL containing an attacker-controlled payload, the browser interprets the injected content as executable script rather than data. The vulnerability requires user interaction, as the target must click or otherwise load the crafted link. Because the attack executes within the victim's authenticated context, it can be chained with administrative actions on the WordPress site.

Root Cause

The underlying weakness is improper neutralization of input during web page generation, classified under [CWE-79]. The plugin does not apply WordPress escaping functions such as esc_html(), esc_attr(), or wp_kses() to request parameters before echoing them into the response body. This omission allows HTML and JavaScript syntax supplied by an attacker to be parsed by the browser as part of the trusted page structure.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and requires no authentication. An attacker crafts a URL targeting a vulnerable Biteship endpoint on the WordPress site with an XSS payload embedded in a reflected parameter. The attacker delivers the URL through phishing emails, malicious advertisements, or third-party websites. When an administrator or logged-in user visits the URL, the injected script runs with their session privileges, enabling session theft, forced administrative actions, or redirection to malicious sites. Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for additional technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-24866

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP requests to Biteship plugin endpoints containing URL-encoded <script>, javascript:, or event-handler payloads such as onerror= and onload=
• Referer headers originating from unfamiliar domains preceding suspicious parameter-laden requests
• Unexpected outbound requests from administrator browsers to attacker-controlled domains shortly after loading plugin pages
• WordPress access logs showing repeated requests with long, encoded query strings targeting Biteship parameters

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules that flag script tags, JavaScript URI schemes, and HTML event handlers in request parameters bound for the plugin
• Correlate WordPress access logs with authenticated administrator sessions to identify suspicious parameter reflection patterns
• Monitor browser Content Security Policy (CSP) violation reports for inline script execution attempts on plugin-rendered pages

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging on the reverse proxy or WAF fronting the WordPress installation and retain records for forensic review
• Alert on administrator account activity that follows an XSS payload delivery, including new user creation and plugin installation events
• Track plugin version inventory across managed WordPress sites and flag installations at or below version 2.2.24

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-24866

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the Biteship plugin to the latest version released after 2.2.24 on all WordPress installations
• Audit administrator and editor accounts for unauthorized changes made since the plugin was installed
• Invalidate active WordPress sessions and rotate authentication cookies after patching
• Review the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for vendor-supplied remediation guidance

Patch Information

The vulnerability affects Biteship plugin versions through 2.2.24. Site administrators should install the vendor-released fixed version through the WordPress plugin dashboard or by replacing the plugin files manually. Verify the installed version under Plugins > Installed Plugins after the update completes.

Workarounds

• Deactivate and remove the Biteship plugin until the patched release can be deployed
• Restrict access to WordPress administrative pages using IP allow-listing at the web server or WAF layer
• Enforce a strict Content Security Policy that blocks inline script execution and unauthorized external script sources
• Require administrators to use dedicated browsers or profiles that do not retain persistent WordPress sessions

# Configuration example: nginx CSP header to reduce XSS impact
add_header Content-Security-Policy "default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'; object-src 'none'; base-uri 'self'; frame-ancestors 'self';" always;