CVE-2024-54209: Awesome Shortcodes Plugin XSS Vulnerability

CVE-2024-54209 Overview

CVE-2024-54209 is a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the WPFactory Awesome Shortcodes plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 1.7.2. The plugin fails to properly neutralize user-controlled input before reflecting it into rendered HTML, enabling attackers to inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript in a victim's browser session. The issue is categorized under CWE-79. Exploitation requires the victim to interact with a crafted link, but no authentication is needed on the attacker side. Successful exploitation can lead to session theft, credential harvesting, and unauthorized actions performed in the victim's WordPress context.

Critical Impact
Attackers can execute arbitrary JavaScript in the victim's browser, leading to session hijacking, credential theft, and administrative account takeover when an authenticated WordPress user is targeted.

Affected Products

WPFactory Awesome Shortcodes plugin for WordPress
All versions from initial release through 1.7.2
WordPress sites running the vulnerable plugin with public-facing endpoints

Discovery Timeline

2024-12-06 - CVE-2024-54209 published to NVD
2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-54209

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of input during web page generation in the Awesome Shortcodes plugin. The plugin accepts attacker-controlled input through an HTTP request parameter and reflects this input into the HTTP response without applying proper output encoding or input sanitization. When a browser parses the response, the injected payload executes as part of the page's Document Object Model (DOM). The reflected nature of the XSS means the malicious payload is delivered through a crafted URL rather than stored persistently on the server. Because the attack scope changes (S:C in the CVSS vector), the injected script can affect resources beyond the vulnerable component, including authenticated WordPress session data. The EPSS probability is 0.254% (percentile 16.53), indicating low observed exploitation activity to date.

Root Cause

The root cause is the absence of context-aware output encoding when rendering user-supplied parameters within plugin-generated HTML. WordPress provides sanitization functions such as esc_html(), esc_attr(), and wp_kses() that should be applied before reflection, but the plugin omits these calls on at least one input-handling code path.

Attack Vector

An attacker crafts a URL containing a malicious JavaScript payload in a parameter processed by the plugin. The attacker delivers this URL through phishing emails, malicious advertisements, or compromised third-party sites. When an authenticated WordPress user clicks the link, the payload executes under the site's origin. The attacker can then exfiltrate session cookies, perform actions on behalf of the user, or pivot to administrative functions if the victim holds elevated privileges. Refer to the Patchstack XSS Vulnerability Advisory for additional technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-54209

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP request logs containing URL parameters with <script>, javascript:, onerror=, or onload= patterns directed at Awesome Shortcodes plugin endpoints
Outbound requests from administrator browsers to unknown domains immediately after clicking external links
Unexpected creation of WordPress administrative users or modification of user roles following suspicious HTTP referrers
Browser console errors or anomalous JavaScript execution observed on pages rendered by the plugin

Detection Strategies

Inspect web server access logs for requests targeting Awesome Shortcodes plugin paths that contain encoded or raw script tags in query parameters
Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule that flags reflected XSS patterns in parameters reaching /wp-content/plugins/awesome-shortcodes/
Enumerate installed WordPress plugins across the environment and identify any instance of Awesome Shortcodes version 1.7.2 or earlier
Correlate phishing email telemetry with subsequent visits to WordPress admin sessions originating from those links

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward WordPress access logs and WAF events into a centralized SIEM for continuous correlation against reflected XSS signatures
Monitor browser-side Content Security Policy (CSP) violation reports for blocked inline script executions on plugin-rendered pages
Alert on changes to high-privilege WordPress accounts and on new plugin or theme installations performed shortly after suspicious HTTP referrers

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-54209

Immediate Actions Required

Identify all WordPress sites running the WPFactory Awesome Shortcodes plugin and confirm the installed version
Update the plugin to a fixed release once the vendor publishes a patched version above 1.7.2
Temporarily deactivate the Awesome Shortcodes plugin on production sites until a patched version is available
Rotate WordPress administrator session cookies and credentials if exploitation is suspected

Patch Information

At the time of NVD publication, the affected version range covers all releases up to and including 1.7.2. Administrators should consult the Patchstack advisory and the WordPress plugin repository for vendor-released fixes and apply updates as soon as they become available.

Workarounds

Deploy WAF rules that block requests containing script tags, javascript: URIs, and common XSS payload patterns targeting plugin endpoints
Enforce a strict Content Security Policy (CSP) that disallows inline scripts and restricts script sources to trusted origins
Restrict administrative access to WordPress through IP allow-listing or a reverse proxy that filters malicious query strings
Educate administrators and editorial staff to avoid clicking unsolicited links that target the WordPress site

bash

# Example WAF rule to block reflected XSS payloads targeting the plugin path
# ModSecurity rule snippet
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@contains /wp-content/plugins/awesome-shortcodes/" \
    "chain,deny,status:403,id:1054209,msg:'Blocked potential XSS targeting Awesome Shortcodes (CVE-2024-54209)'"
    SecRule ARGS "@rx (?i)(<script|javascript:|onerror=|onload=|<svg)" "t:urlDecodeUni,t:htmlEntityDecode"