CVE-2024-8981

Broken Link Checker <= 2.4.0 - Reflected Cross-Site Scripting

2024-09-30 00:00

Strategic Overview

Status: Patched in 2.4.1
Affected Plugin: Broken Link Checker
Affected Version: <= 2.4.0
CVSS: 7.1High
Weakness type: CWE-80 · Improper Neutralization of Script-Related HTML Tags in a Web Page (Basic XSS)
CVE: CVE-2024-8981

View all Broken Link Checker vulnerabilities

At a glance

CVE-2024-8981 is a high-severity Improper Neutralization of Script-Related HTML Tags in a Web Page (Basic XSS) vulnerability in the Broken Link Checker WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 2.4.0. It carries a CVSS score of 7.1 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity). Exploitation requires no authentication. The issue is fixed in version 2.4.1; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed September 2024, reported by vgo0.

Vulnerability Overview

The Broken Link Checker plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Reflected Cross-Site Scripting due to the use of add_query_arg in /app/admin-notices/features/class-view.php without appropriate escaping on the URL in all versions up to, and including, 2.4.0. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that execute if they can successfully trick a user into performing an action such as clicking on a link.

Technical Analysis

The vector marks this flaw as remotely reachable over the network, with low attack complexity — no special timing or configuration is needed, and no privileges on the target site.

CWE-80: Improper Neutralization of Script-Related HTML Tags in a Web Page (Basic XSS)

The product receives input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special characters such as <, >, and & that could be interpreted as web-scripting elements when they are sent to a downstream component that processes web pages.

Remediation

Update to version 2.4.1, or a newer patched version

How does WordSec protect against this?

The attempt arrives as an ordinary request to Broken Link Checker: WordSec's web application firewall inspects request payloads before WordPress loads them. None of that substitutes for the fix: Broken Link Checker 2.4.1 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.

Firewall
Alerts

External References

https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-8981 https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/429fe34a-5fa9-4032-9b21-4de114dbc9d1 https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-8981

Related records

CVSS Vector

7.1

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L

Base

Attack VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges RequiredNone
User InteractionRequired
ScopeChanged
ConfidentialityLow
IntegrityLow
AvailabilityLow

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