CVE-2024-53720: WP-ISPConfig 3 CSRF Vulnerability

CVE-2024-53720 Overview

CVE-2024-53720 is a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the ole1986 WP-ISPConfig 3 WordPress plugin (wp-ispconfig3). The flaw affects all versions through 1.5.6 and chains into a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) condition. An attacker can craft a malicious request that, when triggered by an authenticated administrator, persists attacker-controlled script content into the WordPress site. The issue is tracked under CWE-352 and was published to the National Vulnerability Database on December 2, 2024.

Critical Impact
A successful attack stores arbitrary JavaScript in the WordPress site, enabling session theft, administrative action hijacking, and downstream compromise of site visitors.

Affected Products

WP-ISPConfig 3 (wp-ispconfig3) WordPress plugin
All versions from initial release through 1.5.6
WordPress sites integrating ISPConfig 3 hosting control panel functionality

Discovery Timeline

2024-12-02 - CVE-2024-53720 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-53720

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability combines two distinct weaknesses in the wp-ispconfig3 plugin. First, state-changing requests handled by the plugin lack a valid anti-CSRF token (such as a WordPress nonce) or fail to validate it correctly. Second, the input accepted through those requests is stored without sufficient output encoding or sanitization, producing a stored XSS condition.

Exploitation requires user interaction, since an authenticated administrator must visit an attacker-controlled page or follow a crafted link. Once the forged request executes in the admin session, the malicious payload is persisted in the plugin's stored configuration or data fields. Subsequent administrators or users rendering the affected page execute the injected JavaScript in their browser context.

Because the scope changes from the targeted plugin to the broader WordPress instance, the impact extends across the site rather than the plugin alone. The EPSS score is 0.166%, reflecting limited observed exploitation activity at this time.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or improperly validated CSRF protection on plugin endpoints that accept user-controlled input, combined with insufficient sanitization of that input before storage and rendering. WordPress provides wp_nonce_field() and check_admin_referer() primitives that the plugin did not enforce consistently.

Attack Vector

The attack is delivered over the network and requires no privileges on the target site. The attacker hosts a page containing an HTML form or JavaScript that auto-submits a request to the vulnerable plugin endpoint on the victim's WordPress site. When an authenticated administrator browses the attacker page, the browser sends the forged request along with valid session cookies. The plugin processes the request, stores the malicious payload, and later renders it as executable script in the WordPress admin or front-end context.

No verified public proof-of-concept code is currently available. See the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Notice for additional technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-53720

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected <script> tags, event handlers, or obfuscated JavaScript in WP-ISPConfig 3 configuration fields stored in the WordPress database
HTTP POST requests to wp-ispconfig3 admin endpoints originating from external Referer headers unrelated to the WordPress site
New or modified administrator accounts shortly after an administrator visited an unfamiliar external link

Detection Strategies

Review the wp_options and plugin-specific tables for entries containing HTML or JavaScript tokens such as <script, onerror=, or javascript:
Inspect WordPress access logs for requests to wp-ispconfig3 handlers that lack a _wpnonce parameter or have anomalous referrers
Correlate browser-side errors, unexpected redirects, or outbound requests from the WordPress admin panel with plugin page loads

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable WordPress audit logging to capture plugin setting changes and the user account responsible
Alert on outbound HTTP requests from administrator browsers to unknown domains while interacting with the WordPress admin interface
Monitor the plugin vendor repository and Patchstack feed for follow-up advisories on wp-ispconfig3

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-53720

Immediate Actions Required

Identify all WordPress instances running the wp-ispconfig3 plugin at version 1.5.6 or earlier
Disable or uninstall the plugin until a patched release is confirmed and installed
Rotate WordPress administrator credentials and invalidate active sessions if compromise is suspected
Audit stored plugin settings and post content for injected script payloads and remove malicious entries

Patch Information

As of the last NVD update on June 17, 2026, the advisory references the Patchstack record covering versions through 1.5.6. Administrators should consult the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Notice and the plugin's official repository for the latest fixed version before re-enabling the plugin.

Workarounds

Restrict access to /wp-admin/ by IP allowlist so forged cross-origin requests cannot reach plugin endpoints from arbitrary networks
Deploy a Web Application Firewall rule that blocks POST requests to wp-ispconfig3 paths missing a valid _wpnonce parameter
Require administrators to use a dedicated browser profile for WordPress administration to limit cross-site request exposure
Apply Content Security Policy headers that disallow inline scripts to reduce the impact of stored XSS execution

bash

# Example nginx rule to block wp-ispconfig3 POSTs missing a nonce parameter
location ~* /wp-admin/admin\.php {
    if ($request_method = POST) {
        if ($arg_page ~* "wp-ispconfig3") {
            if ($arg__wpnonce = "") { return 403; }
        }
    }
}