CVE-2024-54438 Overview
CVE-2024-54438 is a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability [CWE-352] in the Gaxx Keywords WordPress plugin developed by gaxx. The flaw affects all versions of the plugin up to and including 0.2. An attacker can chain the CSRF flaw with a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) payload to inject persistent JavaScript into the WordPress site when an authenticated administrator is tricked into visiting a crafted page.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation results in stored JavaScript execution in the administrator's browser, enabling session theft, account takeover, or further compromise of the WordPress installation.
Affected Products
- Gaxx Keywords WordPress plugin (gaxx-keywords)
- All versions from n/a through 0.2
- WordPress installations using the affected plugin
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-12-16 - CVE-2024-54438 published to NVD
- 2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-54438
Vulnerability Analysis
The Gaxx Keywords plugin fails to validate the origin of state-changing HTTP requests. The plugin does not implement WordPress nonce verification on the endpoints that update plugin settings or keyword data. This omission allows an attacker-controlled web page to submit forged requests on behalf of an authenticated administrator.
The second-order issue compounds the CSRF flaw. User-supplied input passed through the forged request is stored without proper sanitization or output encoding. The injected payload persists in the database and executes whenever an administrator loads the affected page.
Exploitation requires user interaction, since the victim administrator must visit a malicious page or click a crafted link while authenticated to WordPress.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing CSRF protection [CWE-352] combined with insufficient input sanitization on plugin settings. WordPress provides wp_nonce_field() and check_admin_referer() primitives for CSRF protection, neither of which the vulnerable code path enforces. The absence of output escaping on stored values allows the XSS payload to survive rendering.
Attack Vector
The attack is network-based and requires no privileges on the target site. An attacker hosts a malicious page containing an auto-submitting HTML form or XMLHttpRequest targeting the vulnerable plugin endpoint. When a logged-in WordPress administrator visits the attacker-controlled page, the browser sends the authenticated request, and the malicious script is stored in the plugin configuration. The script executes on subsequent administrator visits to the affected page.
No verified public proof-of-concept is available. See the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for additional technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-54438
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected <script> tags, event handlers, or obfuscated JavaScript stored within Gaxx Keywords plugin settings or post metadata
- Administrator session cookies appearing in outbound traffic to unknown domains
- New or modified WordPress administrator accounts created without authorization
- HTTP referer headers on plugin update requests originating from domains outside the WordPress site
Detection Strategies
- Audit the wp_options table and plugin-specific tables for HTML or JavaScript content in fields that should contain plain text keywords
- Review web server access logs for POST requests to plugin administrative endpoints with cross-origin referers
- Monitor for outbound requests from administrator browser sessions to unrecognized external hosts immediately after loading WordPress admin pages
Monitoring Recommendations
- Deploy a web application firewall rule set that flags POST requests to WordPress admin endpoints lacking valid nonce parameters
- Enable WordPress activity logging plugins to record administrative changes and settings modifications
- Alert on creation of new administrator accounts or modification of user roles outside change windows
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-54438
Immediate Actions Required
- Deactivate and remove the Gaxx Keywords plugin until a patched version is confirmed available
- Audit plugin settings and stored content for injected scripts and remove any malicious payloads
- Force password resets for all WordPress administrator accounts and invalidate active sessions
- Restrict access to /wp-admin/ by IP address where feasible to reduce CSRF exposure
Patch Information
No vendor patch has been confirmed as of the last NVD update. Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for updates on remediation status. Until a fix is published, removal of the plugin is the recommended action.
Workarounds
- Use a virtual patching WAF rule to block requests to gaxx-keywords administrative endpoints that lack a valid WordPress nonce
- Apply a strict Content Security Policy (CSP) on WordPress admin pages to limit inline script execution
- Require administrators to use a separate browser profile for WordPress administration to reduce CSRF attack surface
# Example WordPress CLI command to deactivate and remove the vulnerable plugin
wp plugin deactivate gaxx-keywords
wp plugin uninstall gaxx-keywords
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
