CVE-2024-53710 Overview
CVE-2024-53710 is a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the ITERAS WordPress plugin that enables Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS). The issue affects ITERAS versions up to and including 1.8.0. An attacker can craft a malicious request that, when triggered by an authenticated administrator visiting an attacker-controlled page, causes persistent JavaScript payloads to be stored in the plugin's configuration. The stored payload then executes in the browser of any user viewing the affected content. The weakness is classified as [CWE-352] (Cross-Site Request Forgery).
Critical Impact
A successful attack chains CSRF with Stored XSS, allowing unauthenticated remote attackers to persist arbitrary script execution in the WordPress admin context after a single user interaction.
Affected Products
- ITERAS WordPress Plugin versions through 1.8.0
- WordPress sites with the ITERAS plugin installed and activated
- Administrator sessions interacting with attacker-controlled content
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-12-02 - CVE-2024-53710 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-53710
Vulnerability Analysis
The ITERAS plugin exposes state-changing endpoints without sufficient anti-CSRF protections. The plugin fails to validate a WordPress nonce or verify the origin of requests that update plugin settings. An attacker who tricks an authenticated administrator into visiting a malicious page can submit a forged request to the plugin on the administrator's behalf. Because the same endpoint accepts unsanitized input that is later rendered without proper output encoding, the forged request implants a Stored XSS payload. The combination of CSRF and Stored XSS expands the impact beyond a single victim. Any user who subsequently loads the affected page executes the attacker's JavaScript in the context of the WordPress site.
Root Cause
The root cause is the absence of CSRF token validation on plugin endpoints handling administrative input. WordPress provides wp_nonce_field() and check_admin_referer() primitives, but the affected versions of ITERAS do not enforce these checks. A secondary defect is missing input sanitization and output escaping, which allows the forged payload to persist as executable script in stored data.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires network access and user interaction but no privileges on the target site. The attacker hosts a page containing an auto-submitting form or a crafted image tag pointing at the vulnerable ITERAS endpoint. When an authenticated WordPress administrator visits the page, the browser sends the request along with valid session cookies. The plugin processes the request and stores the attacker-supplied script content. Subsequent page loads trigger script execution, enabling session theft, administrative account creation, or further plugin compromise.
No verified public proof-of-concept code is available. Technical details are documented in the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability advisory.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-53710
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected <script> tags, event handlers, or JavaScript URIs stored in ITERAS plugin options within the wp_options table
- WordPress admin sessions originating from external referrers immediately preceding plugin configuration changes
- Outbound requests from administrator browsers to unfamiliar domains after viewing ITERAS-rendered pages
- Audit log entries showing plugin settings modifications without corresponding administrator activity
Detection Strategies
- Inspect ITERAS plugin database entries for HTML or JavaScript content that should not appear in configuration fields
- Review web server access logs for POST requests to ITERAS admin endpoints lacking valid Referer headers matching the site domain
- Monitor WordPress activity logs for settings changes that do not correlate with intentional administrator actions
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable a WordPress audit logging plugin to record all plugin configuration changes with user attribution
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall rule to flag cross-origin POST requests to /wp-admin/ endpoints
- Alert on Content Security Policy violations reported by administrator browsers when loading ITERAS pages
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-53710
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the ITERAS plugin to a version released after 1.8.0 that addresses the CSRF flaw
- Audit the wp_options table and ITERAS-specific database entries for injected script content and remove any malicious payloads
- Force a password reset and session invalidation for all WordPress administrator accounts on affected sites
Patch Information
Review the Patchstack advisory for the latest fixed version and vendor remediation guidance. Apply the update through the WordPress plugin manager or via WP-CLI.
Workarounds
- Deactivate and remove the ITERAS plugin until a patched version is installed
- Restrict /wp-admin/ access using IP allowlisting at the web server or WAF layer
- Enforce a strict Content Security Policy that blocks inline script execution in the WordPress admin interface
- Require administrators to use separate browser profiles or sessions when managing WordPress to reduce CSRF exposure
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
