CVE-2024-53776 identifies a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the Donate Me plugin developed by raphaelheide, affecting all versions up to 1.2.5. CSRF vulnerabilities allow attackers to trick authenticated users into submitting unwanted requests to a web application, potentially causing unauthorized actions without the user’s consent. In this case, the CSRF vulnerability is linked to the ability to inject Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) payloads. Stored XSS occurs when malicious scripts are permanently stored on the target server, for example, in a database or message forum, and then executed in the browsers of users who access the affected content. The combination of CSRF and Stored XSS increases the attack surface, as an attacker can leverage CSRF to inject persistent XSS payloads, which can then be used to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of users, or deliver malware. The vulnerability affects the Donate Me plugin, which is used to add donation functionality to websites, often integrated into WordPress environments. No patches or fixes have been linked yet, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild. The vulnerability was published on December 2, 2024, with no CVSS score assigned. The lack of authentication bypass or user interaction requirements beyond being authenticated makes this vulnerability easier to exploit in targeted attacks. The plugin’s market penetration is primarily within WordPress sites that require donation features, which can include non-profits, content creators, and small businesses.

The impact of CVE-2024-53776 is significant for organizations using the Donate Me plugin, especially those relying on it for donation processing on WordPress sites. Exploitation can lead to unauthorized actions performed in the context of authenticated users, including the injection of persistent malicious scripts (Stored XSS). This can compromise user confidentiality by stealing session tokens or personal data, integrity by altering site content or donation records, and availability if the site is defaced or disrupted. Attackers could also use the vulnerability to escalate privileges or pivot to other parts of the network. Given the plugin’s use in donation processing, financial fraud or reputational damage could result. The absence of known exploits currently limits immediate widespread impact, but the vulnerability’s nature makes it a high-risk target for attackers focusing on non-profit organizations, content creators, and small businesses globally. The ease of exploitation without complex prerequisites increases the threat level.

To mitigate CVE-2024-53776, organizations should immediately check for updates or patches from the raphaelheide Donate Me plugin developer and apply them as soon as they become available. In the absence of official patches, administrators should implement strict CSRF protections such as verifying anti-CSRF tokens on all state-changing requests within the plugin. Additionally, input validation and output encoding should be enforced to prevent Stored XSS payloads from being stored or executed. Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) can be configured to detect and block suspicious CSRF and XSS attack patterns targeting the plugin endpoints. Site administrators should also review user permissions to minimize the number of users with the ability to perform sensitive actions through the plugin. Regular security audits and monitoring for unusual activity related to donation functionalities can help detect exploitation attempts early. Educating users about phishing and social engineering risks can reduce the likelihood of successful CSRF attacks. Finally, consider isolating or sandboxing donation processing components to limit the blast radius of potential attacks.