CVE-2024-52458 Overview
CVE-2024-52458 is a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the TM Islamic Helper WordPress plugin developed by zaymund. The flaw affects all plugin versions up to and including 1.0.1. Attackers can inject malicious scripts that execute in a victim's browser when the user clicks a crafted link. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79, Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. Exploitation requires user interaction but no authentication, and the scope is changed, meaning the impact extends beyond the vulnerable component.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation enables session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to attacker-controlled sites through script execution in the victim's browser context.
Affected Products
- TM Islamic Helper WordPress plugin (tm-islamic-helper)
- All versions from initial release through 1.0.1
- WordPress sites with the plugin installed and activated
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-12-02 - CVE-2024-52458 published to NVD
- 2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-52458
Vulnerability Analysis
The TM Islamic Helper plugin fails to properly sanitize and encode user-supplied input before reflecting it back in the HTTP response. An attacker can craft a URL containing JavaScript payloads in vulnerable parameters. When a victim follows the link, the plugin renders the unsanitized input directly into the page, causing the browser to execute the injected code.
The attack vector is network-based with low complexity. No privileges are required, but the victim must interact with a malicious link. The vulnerability carries an EPSS probability of 0.197% (percentile 41.487), indicating moderate likelihood of exploitation activity. No public proof-of-concept or active exploitation has been reported at this time.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing output encoding and input validation on request parameters processed by the plugin. The plugin echoes user-controlled data into HTML responses without applying WordPress sanitization functions such as esc_html(), esc_attr(), or wp_kses(). This allows arbitrary HTML and JavaScript to be embedded in the rendered page.
Attack Vector
An attacker crafts a URL targeting the vulnerable endpoint with a payload such as <script> tags or event-handler attributes. The attacker delivers the link through phishing, forum posts, or malicious advertising. When an authenticated administrator clicks the link, the injected script runs with the privileges of that session, enabling cookie theft, account takeover, or unauthorized administrative actions.
The vulnerability is described in the Patchstack Vulnerability Report. No verified exploit code is publicly available.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-52458
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP requests to WordPress endpoints containing URL-encoded <script>, onerror=, or javascript: payloads
- Unexpected outbound requests from administrator browsers to unknown domains after clicking links
- Anomalous session cookie use from new IP addresses following administrator activity
- Web server access logs showing crafted query strings targeting plugin parameters
Detection Strategies
- Inspect web access logs for query parameters containing HTML special characters or script tag patterns
- Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that flag reflected XSS signatures in plugin request paths
- Monitor browser-side Content Security Policy (CSP) violation reports for blocked inline scripts
- Correlate administrator session anomalies with recent outbound link clicks from email or messaging platforms
Monitoring Recommendations
- Audit WordPress plugin inventory and flag tm-islamic-helper versions at or below 1.0.1
- Enable WordPress debug and access logging for endpoints exposed by the plugin
- Track administrator account activity for unauthorized configuration or user changes after suspected exploitation
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-52458
Immediate Actions Required
- Deactivate and remove the TM Islamic Helper plugin from WordPress installations until a patched version is confirmed available
- Force-reset administrator session cookies and rotate credentials for any account that may have clicked suspicious links
- Deploy a WAF rule to block requests containing common XSS payloads targeting the plugin path
- Enable a strict Content Security Policy that disallows inline JavaScript execution
Patch Information
No patched version is identified in the available advisory data. The vulnerability affects all versions through 1.0.1. Site administrators should monitor the Patchstack advisory and the WordPress plugin repository for an updated release that introduces proper input sanitization.
Workarounds
- Remove the plugin entirely if a vendor patch is not available
- Restrict access to the WordPress administrative interface by IP allowlist
- Require administrators to use isolated browsers or sessions when managing the site
- Train administrators to avoid clicking unsolicited links that reference the WordPress site
# Identify and disable the vulnerable plugin via WP-CLI
wp plugin list --name=tm-islamic-helper --fields=name,status,version
wp plugin deactivate tm-islamic-helper
wp plugin delete tm-islamic-helper
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
