CVE-2024-56024 Overview
CVE-2024-56024 is a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting the DuoGeek Custom Dashboard Widget plugin for WordPress. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of user input during web page generation [CWE-79]. All plugin versions up to and including 1.0.0 are affected. An attacker can craft a malicious URL that, when opened by an authenticated user, executes arbitrary JavaScript in the victim's browser session. The vulnerability requires user interaction and can result in session theft, administrative action forgery, or delivery of secondary payloads through the WordPress dashboard context.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript in an authenticated WordPress user's browser, enabling session hijacking and unauthorized dashboard actions.
Affected Products
- DuoGeek Custom Dashboard Widget plugin for WordPress
- Versions from n/a through 1.0.0 (inclusive)
- WordPress installations with the create-custom-dashboard-widget plugin enabled
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-01-02 - CVE-2024-56024 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-56024
Vulnerability Analysis
CVE-2024-56024 is a reflected XSS flaw in the Custom Dashboard Widget WordPress plugin developed by DuoGeek. The plugin fails to sanitize or encode user-supplied input before reflecting it in HTTP responses rendered by the WordPress administrative interface. When a victim clicks a crafted link containing malicious JavaScript, the payload is echoed back into the page and executed in the browser under the origin of the WordPress site.
The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-79], Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. Reflected XSS requires the victim to interact with an attacker-controlled input, typically through a phishing link or embedded iframe. Because the payload executes with the privileges of the authenticated user, an administrator victim can lead to full compromise of the WordPress site.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing input validation and output encoding in the plugin's request handling routines. Request parameters processed by the plugin are inserted directly into HTML output without escaping HTML special characters or applying WordPress sanitization functions such as esc_html(), esc_attr(), or wp_kses(). This allows script tags and event handlers submitted through GET or POST parameters to be rendered as executable markup.
Attack Vector
Exploitation is network-based and requires user interaction. An attacker crafts a URL containing a JavaScript payload in a vulnerable parameter and delivers it via phishing email, social media, or a malicious website. When an authenticated WordPress user, typically an administrator, visits the link, the injected script executes within the dashboard context. Attackers can steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of the user, or pivot to other administrative functions. The scope changes because the injected script can access resources beyond the vulnerable component.
No verified proof-of-concept code is publicly available. Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for additional technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-56024
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP requests to WordPress admin URLs containing <script>, javascript:, or onerror= payloads in query parameters targeting the Custom Dashboard Widget plugin.
- Unexpected outbound requests from browsers of WordPress administrators to attacker-controlled domains shortly after opening emailed links.
- WordPress wp_options or user metadata changes originating from administrator sessions without corresponding legitimate activity.
Detection Strategies
- Inspect web server access logs for requests to plugin endpoints containing URL-encoded HTML entities such as %3Cscript%3E or %22%3E%3Cimg.
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules that flag reflected XSS patterns in query strings targeting /wp-admin/ paths.
- Correlate referrer headers with administrator sessions to identify inbound clicks from untrusted origins.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable WordPress audit logging for administrator actions and review any changes tied to short-lived sessions or unusual IP addresses.
- Alert on Content Security Policy (CSP) violation reports referencing inline script execution on /wp-admin/ pages.
- Track plugin version inventories across WordPress deployments to identify hosts still running Custom Dashboard Widget 1.0.0 or earlier.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-56024
Immediate Actions Required
- Deactivate and remove the DuoGeek Custom Dashboard Widget plugin from all WordPress installations until a patched version is available.
- Force logout of all WordPress administrator sessions and require password resets if exploitation is suspected.
- Instruct administrators to avoid clicking untrusted links while authenticated to the WordPress dashboard.
Patch Information
At the time of publication, no vendor patch is referenced in the NVD advisory. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 1.0.0. Monitor the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for updates on remediation status.
Workarounds
- Uninstall the plugin and replace it with a maintained alternative that receives active security updates.
- Deploy a WAF rule set with OWASP Core Rule Set XSS signatures in blocking mode in front of the WordPress site.
- Enforce a strict Content Security Policy that disallows inline scripts and restricts script sources to trusted origins.
- Require multi-factor authentication for all WordPress administrator accounts to reduce the impact of session compromise.
# Example CSP header to mitigate reflected XSS impact
Header set Content-Security-Policy "default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'; object-src 'none'; frame-ancestors 'self'; base-uri 'self'"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
