CVE-2024-7083 Overview
CVE-2024-7083 is a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Email Encoder WordPress plugin versions before 2.3.4. The plugin fails to sanitize and escape several of its settings inputs. An authenticated attacker with administrator privileges can inject malicious JavaScript that persists in plugin settings. The injected payload executes in the browser of any user who views the affected page.
The issue is significant in WordPress multisite deployments. In those environments, the unfiltered_html capability is typically revoked from site administrators to prevent script injection. This vulnerability bypasses that restriction, allowing site admins to execute scripts in the context of super admins.
Critical Impact
Authenticated administrators can inject persistent JavaScript that bypasses the unfiltered_html capability restriction in WordPress multisite installations, enabling privilege escalation to super admin.
Affected Products
- Email Encoder WordPress plugin versions prior to 2.3.4
- WordPress single-site installations running the affected plugin
- WordPress multisite installations running the affected plugin
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-04-20 - CVE-2024-7083 published to NVD
- 2026-04-20 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-7083
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is classified as Cross-Site Scripting [CWE-79]. The Email Encoder plugin exposes administrative settings that accept user-supplied values. Those values are stored in the WordPress options table without sufficient sanitization. When the plugin renders the settings page or outputs the stored values, the unsanitized content is reflected to the DOM. This causes injected script to execute in the browser context of any user viewing the rendered output.
Exploitation requires high privileges and user interaction, limiting the attack surface to scenarios where an attacker controls an administrator account or persuades an admin to submit a crafted payload. The primary value of the bug lies in bypassing the unfiltered_html capability check enforced on multisite networks.
Root Cause
The plugin code does not call WordPress sanitization helpers such as sanitize_text_field(), wp_kses(), or esc_attr() on certain settings inputs before persisting them. Output routines likewise omit esc_html() or esc_attr() escaping. The combined absence of input sanitization and output escaping permits raw HTML and JavaScript to traverse the storage and rendering pipeline intact.
Attack Vector
An attacker with administrator access submits a crafted value to a vulnerable settings field in the plugin's configuration interface. The payload is written to the WordPress database. When a privileged user, typically a super administrator on multisite, navigates to a page that renders the stored setting, the injected script executes with that user's session. The attacker can then perform actions such as creating new accounts, modifying plugin code, or installing arbitrary plugins. Refer to the WPScan Vulnerability Advisory for further technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-7083
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected <script>, onerror, or onload strings stored in WordPress wp_options rows associated with the Email Encoder plugin
- New administrator or super administrator accounts created shortly after a settings update
- Modifications to plugin or theme files following access to the plugin settings page
- Outbound HTTP requests from admin browser sessions to unfamiliar domains while editing plugin settings
Detection Strategies
- Query the wp_options table for plugin option keys and inspect values for HTML tags or JavaScript event handlers
- Review WordPress audit logs for update_option events targeting Email Encoder settings by accounts that do not typically configure plugins
- Monitor browser Content Security Policy (CSP) violation reports originating from /wp-admin/ paths
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable a WordPress activity log plugin and alert on settings changes to the Email Encoder plugin
- Track admin session anomalies including new IP addresses, user agents, or off-hours logins
- Forward web server access logs to a centralized analytics platform and alert on POST requests to plugin settings endpoints from non-administrative source addresses
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-7083
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade the Email Encoder plugin to version 2.3.4 or later on every WordPress site that uses it
- Audit administrator accounts and remove any unused or suspicious users
- Rotate credentials for any administrator account that may have accessed the plugin settings while the vulnerable version was installed
- Review the wp_options table for stored payloads and remove malicious content
Patch Information
The vendor addressed the vulnerability in Email Encoder plugin version 2.3.4 by adding input sanitization and output escaping on the affected settings fields. Site operators should apply the update through the WordPress plugin manager or by replacing the plugin files manually. Confirm the installed version under Plugins in the WordPress admin console after updating.
Workarounds
- Restrict access to the plugin settings page using a role management plugin until the update is applied
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule that blocks HTML tags in POST requests to the plugin settings endpoint
- Enforce a strict Content Security Policy that disallows inline scripts in the WordPress admin area
# Configuration example: update the plugin via WP-CLI
wp plugin update email-encoder-bundle --version=2.3.4
wp plugin list --name=email-encoder-bundle --fields=name,status,version
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
