CVE-2024-56056: Kmfoysal06 Simplecharm XSS Vulnerability

CVE-2024-56056 Overview

CVE-2024-56056 is a reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the kmfoysal06 SimpleCharm WordPress theme. The flaw affects all versions of SimpleCharm up to and including 1.4.3. The issue stems from improper neutralization of user-supplied input during web page generation, classified as [CWE-79].

An attacker can craft a malicious URL containing JavaScript payloads. When a victim clicks the link, the script executes in the victim's browser session under the context of the vulnerable WordPress site. Successful exploitation can lead to session theft, credential harvesting, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the victim.

Critical Impact

Reflected XSS in SimpleCharm allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript in victim browsers, potentially compromising WordPress administrator sessions and enabling site takeover through social engineering.

Affected Products

• kmfoysal06 SimpleCharm WordPress theme versions through 1.4.3
• WordPress sites running SimpleCharm theme without patches
• All deployments exposing the vulnerable theme to unauthenticated users

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-01-07 - CVE-2024-56056 published to NVD
• 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-56056

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a reflected cross-site scripting flaw in the SimpleCharm WordPress theme. The theme accepts user-controlled input through HTTP request parameters and reflects that input back into the rendered HTML response without proper sanitization or output encoding.

Because the input is echoed directly into the page, an attacker can inject JavaScript that the victim's browser will parse and execute. The attack requires user interaction, typically clicking a crafted link. The scope is changed, meaning the injected script can affect resources beyond the vulnerable component, such as authenticated WordPress sessions.

The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability at a limited level. Attackers commonly weaponize reflected XSS to steal session cookies, hijack administrative accounts, or pivot into stored payloads via authenticated requests.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing input validation and output encoding within the SimpleCharm theme code. Parameters supplied via GET or POST requests are written into HTML response contexts without applying WordPress sanitization functions such as esc_html(), esc_attr(), or wp_kses(). The theme treats untrusted input as trusted markup.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and requires no authentication. An attacker constructs a URL on the target WordPress site that includes a malicious payload in a vulnerable parameter. The attacker delivers this URL to victims via phishing email, malicious advertisements, or social media.

When a WordPress administrator visits the link while logged in, the injected script executes with their privileges. The attacker can then exfiltrate cookies, submit forms via the WordPress REST API, or modify site content. No exploit code or public proof-of-concept is currently listed for this CVE. Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-56056

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP request logs containing URL parameters with <script>, javascript:, onerror=, or onload= substrings targeting SimpleCharm theme endpoints
• Unexpected outbound requests from administrator browser sessions to attacker-controlled domains
• WordPress admin account activity originating from unfamiliar IP addresses shortly after a user clicked an external link

Detection Strategies

• Inspect web server access logs for query strings containing encoded or raw HTML and JavaScript syntax directed at SimpleCharm theme files
• Deploy a web application firewall with rules that flag reflected XSS patterns in query parameters and request bodies
• Correlate referrer headers showing external sources with subsequent administrative actions in WordPress audit logs

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable WordPress activity logging plugins to capture session anomalies and administrator behavior changes
• Monitor browser console errors and Content Security Policy (CSP) violation reports from site visitors
• Track theme version inventory across managed WordPress instances to identify exposed SimpleCharm installations

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-56056

Immediate Actions Required

• Identify all WordPress sites running the SimpleCharm theme at version 1.4.3 or earlier
• Disable or remove the SimpleCharm theme until a vendor patch is confirmed installed
• Force logout of all WordPress administrators and rotate session keys defined in wp-config.php
• Review administrator accounts for unauthorized additions or privilege changes

Patch Information

At the time of publication, the Patchstack advisory lists versions through 1.4.3 as affected with no fixed version confirmed. Site operators should monitor the Patchstack Vulnerability Report and the theme repository for an updated release.

Workarounds

• Switch to an actively maintained WordPress theme until a patched SimpleCharm version is released
• Deploy a Content Security Policy header that restricts inline script execution and limits trusted script sources
• Apply web application firewall rules to block requests containing common XSS payload patterns targeting theme parameters
• Restrict WordPress administrator access to known IP ranges via server-level access controls

# Example nginx configuration to add a restrictive CSP header
add_header Content-Security-Policy "default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'; object-src 'none'; base-uri 'self';" always;
add_header X-XSS-Protection "1; mode=block" always;