CVE-2024-54299 Overview
CVE-2024-54299 is a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Revi.io revi-io-customer-and-product-reviews WordPress plugin developed by revidev. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 5.7.3. The plugin fails to properly neutralize user-supplied input before reflecting it back in generated web pages, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary JavaScript. Exploitation requires user interaction, such as a victim clicking a crafted link. The issue is tracked under CWE-79.
Critical Impact
Attackers can execute arbitrary JavaScript in a victim's browser session, leading to session token theft, account takeover, and unauthorized actions on the WordPress site.
Affected Products
- Revi.io revi-io-customer-and-product-reviews WordPress plugin versions through 5.7.3
- WordPress sites with the affected plugin enabled
- Site visitors and administrators interacting with crafted URLs
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-12-13 - CVE-2024-54299 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-54299
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of user-controlled input during web page generation. The plugin reflects request parameters back into HTTP responses without applying contextual output encoding or sanitization. An attacker crafts a URL containing JavaScript payloads within vulnerable parameters and lures a target to click it. When the victim's browser renders the response, the injected script executes within the origin of the WordPress site.
Because the scope is changed (S:C in the CVSS vector), the impact extends beyond the vulnerable component to other browser contexts and resources accessible to the victim. The confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts are each rated low individually, but successful exploitation can compromise authenticated sessions, including those of site administrators.
Root Cause
The plugin code path responsible for rendering review-related output concatenates request data directly into HTML without escaping. WordPress provides sanitization helpers such as esc_html(), esc_attr(), and wp_kses(), but the affected version does not apply them consistently to the affected parameters. This omission permits HTML and script tags supplied in the request to render as active content.
Attack Vector
Exploitation is remote and requires user interaction. The attacker constructs a malicious URL pointing at a vulnerable endpoint of the target WordPress site and delivers it through phishing, forum posts, social media, or malicious advertisements. When a logged-in administrator clicks the link, the injected JavaScript runs with that user's privileges. Attackers can steal authentication cookies, forge administrative requests, create rogue admin accounts, or pivot to deliver further payloads.
No authentication is required on the attacker side, and the vulnerability is reachable over the network. See the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Advisory for additional technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-54299
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP requests containing URL-encoded <script>, onerror=, onload=, or javascript: payloads targeting plugin endpoints
- Referer headers from external domains pointing to plugin URLs with unusual query strings
- Unexpected outbound connections from browsers immediately after visiting review pages
- New administrative users or modified WordPress options shortly after an administrator clicks an external link
Detection Strategies
- Inspect web server access logs for requests to revi-io-customer-and-product-reviews endpoints containing HTML tags or JavaScript event handlers in parameters
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) signature for reflected XSS patterns directed at WordPress plugin paths
- Monitor browser-side errors and Content Security Policy (CSP) violation reports for blocked inline script execution
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose logging on the WordPress site and forward events to a centralized SIEM for correlation
- Alert on creation of new administrator accounts, plugin installations, or theme edits outside change windows
- Track HTTP 200 responses to plugin URLs that contain reflected script-like content in the response body
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-54299
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the Revi.io revi-io-customer-and-product-reviews plugin to a version newer than 5.7.3 as soon as the vendor publishes a fixed release
- Audit administrative accounts, active sessions, and recently modified plugins or themes for signs of unauthorized changes
- Force a password reset and session invalidation for all WordPress administrators if exploitation is suspected
Patch Information
Consult the Patchstack advisory for vendor patch status. The advisory lists versions through 5.7.3 as affected. Apply the latest patched plugin release once available from the WordPress plugin repository.
Workarounds
- Disable or remove the Revi.io plugin until a patched version is installed
- Deploy a strict Content Security Policy (CSP) that blocks inline scripts and untrusted script sources
- Restrict access to WordPress administrative pages by IP allowlist or VPN where feasible
- Configure a WAF rule to block requests containing HTML or script payloads in plugin parameters
# Example CSP header to mitigate reflected XSS impact
Header set Content-Security-Policy "default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'; object-src 'none'; base-uri 'self'; frame-ancestors 'self'"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
