Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Ajax Search Lite for WordPress through version 4.11.4 has a reported CSRF issue that can enable reflected cross-site scripting. An attacker would need user interaction, but exploitation could affect browser-session trust and site integrity. No source bundle evidence shows active exploitation.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation for public WordPress sites using this plugin, especially business-critical sites or sites with privileged editors. The issue is high severity, but current source evidence does not show known active exploitation.
Technical view
CVE-2024-21752 affects Ernest Marcinko Ajax Search Lite through 4.11.4. The CVE describes CSRF allowing reflected XSS, mapped to CWE-352, with CVSS 3.1 score 7.1 and UI required. Scope is changed, with low confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to WordPress sites running the Ajax Search Lite plugin at version 4.11.4 or earlier. The bundle does not identify other products, platforms, or confirmed vulnerable configurations.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector indicates network reachability, low attack complexity, no privileges required, and required user interaction. CISA KEV is false in the bundle, and no cited source confirms active exploitation.
Researcher notes
The source bundle is sparse: it names affected versions through 4.11.4 and describes CSRF leading to reflected XSS, but does not include endpoint details, exploit status, or a confirmed fixed release. Avoid assuming broader product impact.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for Ajax Search Lite installations.
- Check vendor or Patchstack guidance for the fixed version or recommended mitigation.
- Prioritize updating or removing installs at version 4.11.4 or earlier.
- Warn administrators against interacting with unsolicited links during remediation.
- Monitor affected sites for suspicious admin-session activity.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether Ajax Search Lite is installed and enabled.
- Record the installed plugin version on each WordPress site.
- Treat versions through 4.11.4 as affected per the source bundle.
- Verify remediation against vendor or Patchstack guidance.
- Document any site where remediation cannot be completed promptly.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-352: User-session and phishing behavior lookup
Client-side and session-facing weaknesses should be reviewed alongside initial-access and user-execution behaviors. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2024-21752 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.1 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L2.83.7Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.1HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L
Source materials
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.