WPFront Notification Bar Vulnerability – Authenticated (Admin+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via wpfront-notification-bar-options[custom_class] – CVE-2024-0625 | WordPress Plugin Vulnerability Report

Q: What is cross-site scripting and how does it threaten sites?

What is cross-site scripting and how does it threaten sites? Cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks allow malicious code to be injected into websites. This gives hackers control to do things like steal data, spread malware, or even completely take over sites. The WPFront vulnerability lets attackers insert malicious JavaScript if they gain admin access, which is why updating plugins is critical.

Q: How are users impacted if attackers exploit this?

How are users impacted if attackers exploit this? Users won't realize their interactions with compromised sites have been undermined. Hackers can silently monitor data entered into forms, redirect users to phishing pages, steal sensitive information like logins, or make drastic unauthorized changes to site content. Users believe they are interacting securely with legitimate sites when they've in fact been hacked via vulnerabilities.

Q: Is my site at risk from this specific vulnerability?

Is my site at risk from this specific vulnerability? If you are running an outdated version of the WPFront Notification Bar plugin, versions up to and including 3.3.2, then yes your site is directly vulnerable. Even if you don't actively use the plugin, being outdated leaves exposure. Updating to version 3.3.3 patches the vulnerability to secure sites.

Q: What could this mean for my business if my site was compromised?

What could this mean for my business if my site was compromised? A hacked website severely damages brands and crushes consumer trust. Visitors exposed to malware or phishing campaigns will actively avoid associated sites and warn others. Stolen credentials or data destroys rapport with users now wary to share information online. The impacts undermine traffic, reputation, operations, and income - all devastating outcomes.

Q: Is finding and fixing these kinds of vulnerabilities complicated?

Is finding and fixing these kinds of vulnerabilities complicated? Absolutely not with the right support. Services exist helping small businesses manage their online operations securely and compliantly. Experts handle monitoring for the latest vulnerabilities across software, diligently update software when issues emerge, and implement security best practices. This consistent oversight protects sites from threats like this WPFront bug.

Q: Should I just remove the plugin from my WordPress site instead?

Should I just remove the plugin from my WordPress site instead? Uninstalling the plugin does remove the vulnerability but loses whatever core notification bar functionality your business may rely on. Updating to the patched version is preferable for maintaining features while closing security gaps. Alternate plugins also provide notification options if needing to replace WPFront for any reason.

Q: What other options exist for displaying messages to visitors if I do replace WPFront?

What other options exist for displaying messages to visitors if I do replace WPFront? Top alternate plugins to consider include NotificationX and Smart Bar. These options provide different styles and customization features to display header bars, popups, etc. Testing different plugins allows identifying an optimal replacement providing security assurance through ongoing oversight by new development teams.

Q: How often are vulnerabilities discovered within WordPress plugins?

How often are vulnerabilities discovered within WordPress plugins? New flaws are unfortunately discovered constantly. The entire WordPress ecosystem, powering over 40% of sites globally, is highly scrutinized by security researchers meaning new plugins and theme vulnerabilities emerge nearly weekly. This high frequency underscores why basic software updates are ineffective - true security requires continuous monitoring.

Q: How can I confirm my site or other software has stayed updated?

How can I confirm my site or other software has stayed updated? Maintaining sites yourself means logging into the WordPress dashboard and manually running checks for available updates periodically. However, this is unreliable for those short on time. Instead, partnering with managed service providers includes mechanisms like change log monitoring. Any update or alteration generates an alert to immediately identify unapproved tampering.

Q: Who can I contact for personalized help securing and maintaining my small business site?

Who can I contact for personalized help securing and maintaining my small business site? Please don't hesitate to reach out to discuss your unique situation and website needs. I offer complimentary consultations to create customized solutions allowing small shop owners to focus on customers rather than cybersecurity. My tailored managed services incorporate specialized tools, routine audits, update monitoring, and other fundamental measures crucial for sustaining seamless, secure online operations. I'm here to help so we can build long-term partnerships.

By Your WP Guy | January 24, 2024

Plugin Name: WPFront Notification Bar

Key Information:

Software Type: Plugin
Software Slug: wpfront-notification-bar
Software Status: Active
Software Author: syammohanm
Software Downloads: 803,067
Active Installs: 50,000
Last Updated: January 24, 2024
Patched Versions: <= 3.3.2
Affected Versions: <= 3.3.2

Vulnerability Details:

Name: WPFront Notification Bar <= 3.3.2 - Authenticated (Admin+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via wpfront-notification-bar-options[custom_class]
Title: Authenticated (Admin+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via wpfront-notification-bar-options[custom_class]
Type: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
CVE: CVE-2024-0625
CVSS Score: 4.4 (Medium)
Publicly Published: January 24, 2024
Researcher: Sh
Description: The WPFront Notification Bar plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the ‘wpfront-notification-bar-options[custom_class]’ parameter in all versions up to, and including, 3.3.2 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with administrator-level access, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page. This only affects multi-site installations and installations where unfiltered_html has been disabled.

Summary:

The WPFront Notification Bar plugin for WordPress has a vulnerability in versions up to and including 3.3.2 that allows authenticated attackers, with administrator-level access, to inject arbitrary web scripts that execute when a user accesses the page. This vulnerability has been patched in version 3.3.3.

Detailed Overview:

The core vulnerability lies in the wpfront-notification-bar-options[custom_class] parameter which fails to properly sanitize user input, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript. On multi-site WordPress installations, as well as sites where the unfiltered_html capability has been revoked, this JavaScript will be stored and executed whenever a vulnerable page is loaded. This grants attackers significant control and exposes sites to further compromise. The vulnerability was addressed by the plugin developers in version 3.3.3 through improved input sanitization.

Advice for Users:

Immediate Action: Update to version 3.3.3 as soon as possible.
Check for Signs of Vulnerability: Review website pages and source code for unauthorized javascript. Also check for other indicators of compromise.
Alternate Plugins: Consider alternate notification bar plugins like NotificationX or Smart Bar as a precaution.
Stay Updated: Always keep plugins updated to avoid vulnerable versions.

Conclusion:

The quick response by WPFront Notification Bar developers to address this vulnerability is commendable. Users should promptly update to version 3.3.3 to protect their WordPress sites. As always, keeping plugins updated is the best defense against threats targeting known vulnerabilities.

References:

https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/wordpress-plugins/wpfront-notification-bar

https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/wordpress-plugins/wpfront-notification-bar/wpfront-notification-bar-332-authenticated-admin-stored-cross-site-scripting-via-wpfront-notification-bar-optionscustom-class

Detailed Report:

Keeping your website secure should be a top priority - but it's not always easy when vulnerabilities are discovered in popular plugins. That's exactly what happened with a recent cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability found in versions of the WPFront Notification Bar plugin. This could fully compromise your site if exploited.

The WPFront Notification Bar plugin is a popular way to display announcements, notices, and marketing messages to visitors through a bar at the top or bottom of pages. It has over 800,000 downloads and 50,000 active installs. Many small business owners rely on it to connect with customers.

Unfortunately, earlier versions of the plugin have a vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious javascript code if they gain admin access. Specifically, versions up to and including 3.3.2 are impacted. This XSS attack can give hackers full control of sites.

While the plugin authors have now patched the problem in version 3.3.3, sites running older versions remain at risk. Updating is crucial but often falls through the cracks when trying to manage all aspects of a small business.

If exploited, this vulnerability allows attackers to modify and redirect your pages, steal sensitive data entered by visitors, or insert code to fully compromise your site. Users may not realize their interactions with your business have been compromised.

To protect your website, update to the latest version of WPFront Notification Bar as soon as possible. Also check your site for any unauthorized code or scripts that may indicate past exploitation. Considering alternate plugins like NotificationX or Smart Bar provides an extra layer of security.

This is just the most recent vulnerability found in the plugin, with two others identified since July 2021. The frequency of discoveries highlights why staying on top of updates is so important. While tedious, consistently updating plugins mitigates the risk of known flaws being used to undermine your hard work building an online presence.

As a business owner, you don't have time to constantly monitor for WordPress vulnerabilities like this. At Your WP Guy, we become your outsourced IT team to handle security, updates, maintenance and support. Let us fully audit your site and plugins to assess any impact from this issue. We'll update everything to patched versions so you can rest easy knowing your site is locked down.

Focus on your business goals while we focus on your WordPress site's security. Chat with us anytime during business hours, schedule a call or call 678-995-5169 for a free consultation on securing your online presence.

WPFront Notification Bar Vulnerability – Authenticated (Admin+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via wpfront-notification-bar-options[custom_class] – CVE-2024-0625 | WordPress Plugin Vulnerability Report FAQs

What is cross-site scripting and how does it threaten sites?

Cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks allow malicious code to be injected into websites. This gives hackers control to do things like steal data, spread malware, or even completely take over sites. The WPFront vulnerability lets attackers insert malicious JavaScript if they gain admin access, which is why updating plugins is critical.

How are users impacted if attackers exploit this?

Users won't realize their interactions with compromised sites have been undermined. Hackers can silently monitor data entered into forms, redirect users to phishing pages, steal sensitive information like logins, or make drastic unauthorized changes to site content. Users believe they are interacting securely with legitimate sites when they've in fact been hacked via vulnerabilities.

Is my site at risk from this specific vulnerability?

What could this mean for my business if my site was compromised?

A hacked website severely damages brands and crushes consumer trust. Visitors exposed to malware or phishing campaigns will actively avoid associated sites and warn others. Stolen credentials or data destroys rapport with users now wary to share information online. The impacts undermine traffic, reputation, operations, and income - all devastating outcomes.

Is finding and fixing these kinds of vulnerabilities complicated?

Absolutely not with the right support. Services exist helping small businesses manage their online operations securely and compliantly. Experts handle monitoring for the latest vulnerabilities across software, diligently update software when issues emerge, and implement security best practices. This consistent oversight protects sites from threats like this WPFront bug.

Should I just remove the plugin from my WordPress site instead?

Uninstalling the plugin does remove the vulnerability but loses whatever core notification bar functionality your business may rely on. Updating to the patched version is preferable for maintaining features while closing security gaps. Alternate plugins also provide notification options if needing to replace WPFront for any reason.

What other options exist for displaying messages to visitors if I do replace WPFront?

Top alternate plugins to consider include NotificationX and Smart Bar. These options provide different styles and customization features to display header bars, popups, etc. Testing different plugins allows identifying an optimal replacement providing security assurance through ongoing oversight by new development teams.

How often are vulnerabilities discovered within WordPress plugins?

New flaws are unfortunately discovered constantly. The entire WordPress ecosystem, powering over 40% of sites globally, is highly scrutinized by security researchers meaning new plugins and theme vulnerabilities emerge nearly weekly. This high frequency underscores why basic software updates are ineffective - true security requires continuous monitoring.

How can I confirm my site or other software has stayed updated?

Maintaining sites yourself means logging into the WordPress dashboard and manually running checks for available updates periodically. However, this is unreliable for those short on time. Instead, partnering with managed service providers includes mechanisms like change log monitoring. Any update or alteration generates an alert to immediately identify unapproved tampering.

Who can I contact for personalized help securing and maintaining my small business site?

Please don't hesitate to reach out to discuss your unique situation and website needs. I offer complimentary consultations to create customized solutions allowing small shop owners to focus on customers rather than cybersecurity. My tailored managed services incorporate specialized tools, routine audits, update monitoring, and other fundamental measures crucial for sustaining seamless, secure online operations. I'm here to help so we can build long-term partnerships.

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Posted in Security, Vulnerabilities and tagged Cross-Site Scripting, cyber threats, Hacker Attacks, Plugin Vulnerability, update plugins, Vulnerability Management, Website Compromise, Website Security, wordpress security, WPFront Notification Bar, XSS

WPFront Notification Bar Vulnerability – Authenticated (Admin+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via wpfront-notification-bar-options[custom_class] – CVE-2024-0625 | WordPress Plugin Vulnerability Report

Plugin Name: WPFront Notification Bar

Key Information:

Vulnerability Details:

Summary:

Detailed Overview:

Advice for Users:

Conclusion:

References:

Detailed Report:

WPFront Notification Bar Vulnerability – Authenticated (Admin+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via wpfront-notification-bar-options[custom_class] – CVE-2024-0625 | WordPress Plugin Vulnerability Report FAQs

What is cross-site scripting and how does it threaten sites?

What is cross-site scripting and how does it threaten sites?

How are users impacted if attackers exploit this?

How are users impacted if attackers exploit this?

Is my site at risk from this specific vulnerability?

Is my site at risk from this specific vulnerability?

What could this mean for my business if my site was compromised?

What could this mean for my business if my site was compromised?

Is finding and fixing these kinds of vulnerabilities complicated?

Is finding and fixing these kinds of vulnerabilities complicated?

Should I just remove the plugin from my WordPress site instead?

Should I just remove the plugin from my WordPress site instead?

What other options exist for displaying messages to visitors if I do replace WPFront?

What other options exist for displaying messages to visitors if I do replace WPFront?

How often are vulnerabilities discovered within WordPress plugins?

How often are vulnerabilities discovered within WordPress plugins?

How can I confirm my site or other software has stayed updated?

How can I confirm my site or other software has stayed updated?

Who can I contact for personalized help securing and maintaining my small business site?

Who can I contact for personalized help securing and maintaining my small business site?

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