CVE-2024-13574

HighPublic PoC

Published: 11 March 2025

Published

11 March 2025

Modified

29 August 2025

KEV Added

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Patch

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CVSS Score 7.1 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L

EPSS Score 0.0015 34.9th percentile

Risk Priority 14 60% EPSS · 20% KEV · 20% CVSS

Summary

CVE-2024-13574 is a high-severity Cross-site Scripting (CWE-79) vulnerability in Xavivars Xv Random Quotes. Its CVSS base score is 7.1 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked at the 34.9th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.

The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 SI-10 (Information Input Validation) and SI-15 (Information Output Filtering).

Threat & Defense at a Glance

What attackers do: exploitation maps to Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190) and 3 other techniques. What defenders deploy: see the NIST 800-53 controls recommended below.

Threat & Defense Details

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5)AI

SI-15 Information Output Filtering good match

prevent

Mandates filtering and encoding of output before rendering to prevent reflected XSS from unescaped parameters like in this plugin vulnerability.

SI-10 Information Input Validation good match

prevent

Requires validation and sanitization of input parameters to block injection of malicious scripts targeted at high-privilege users.

SI-2 Flaw Remediation good match

prevent

Ensures timely flaw remediation by updating vulnerable plugins like XV Random Quotes beyond version 1.40 to eliminate the XSS issue.

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access

Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.

attack.mitre.org →

T1566.002 Spearphishing Link Initial Access

Adversaries may send spearphishing emails with a malicious link in an attempt to gain access to victim systems.

attack.mitre.org →

T1059.007 JavaScript Execution

Adversaries may abuse various implementations of JavaScript for execution.

attack.mitre.org →

T1185 Browser Session Hijacking Collection

Adversaries may take advantage of security vulnerabilities and inherent functionality in browser software to change content, modify user-behaviors, and intercept information as part of various browser session hijacking techniques.

attack.mitre.org →

Why these techniques?

Reflected XSS in public-facing WordPress plugin enables direct exploitation of the web app (T1190), delivery via crafted malicious links in phishing (T1566.002), arbitrary JavaScript execution in browser (T1059.007), and session hijacking (T1185) as explicitly noted in the description.

Confidence: HIGH · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v19.0

NVD Description

The XV Random Quotes WordPress plugin through 1.40 does not sanitise and escape a parameter before outputting it back in the page, leading to a Reflected Cross-Site Scripting which could be used against high privilege users such as admin.

Deeper analysisAI

CVE-2024-13574 is a reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the XV Random Quotes WordPress plugin through version 1.40. The flaw arises because the plugin fails to sanitize and escape a parameter before outputting it back in the page, allowing malicious scripts to be injected and executed in a victim's browser. This issue is classified under CWE-79 and carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.1 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L), indicating high severity due to its network accessibility and scope change.

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely without privileges by tricking a targeted user, such as an administrator, into interacting with a maliciously crafted link or page. Successful exploitation executes arbitrary JavaScript in the context of the victim's browser, potentially enabling session hijacking, theft of sensitive data, or further actions limited by the low confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts. The requirement for user interaction makes it suitable for phishing campaigns aimed at high-privilege WordPress users.

Advisories from WPScan detail the vulnerability at https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/7eb9ef20-5d34-425e-b7fc-38a769d0a822/, where security practitioners should consult for specific detection, patch availability, and mitigation guidance, such as updating to a fixed version beyond 1.40 or implementing input validation.