CVE-2024-24511 in ojs
Summary
by MITRE • 03/02/2024
Cross Site Scripting vulnerability in Pkp OJS v.3.4 allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code via the Input Title component.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-24511 represents a critical cross site scripting flaw within the Public Knowledge Project Open Journal Systems version 3.4 platform. This vulnerability specifically affects the Input Title component, which serves as a fundamental interface element for journal editors and administrators to manage article metadata within the open access publishing framework. The affected system operates as a web-based content management solution designed to facilitate academic journal operations and scholarly communication processes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the Input Title component. When user-supplied data is processed through this interface without proper encoding or filtering, malicious script code can be injected and subsequently executed within the browser context of authenticated users. This flaw falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross Site Scripting, which is classified as a critical weakness in web applications where untrusted data is improperly handled during web page generation. The vulnerability specifically manifests when editors or administrators interact with the title input field, which may be manipulated to include malicious javascript payloads that persist within the system's data storage mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged for various malicious activities within the compromised environment. An attacker could potentially execute malicious scripts that redirect users to phishing sites, steal session cookies, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users with elevated privileges. The vulnerability's exploitation capability allows for privilege escalation scenarios where unauthenticated attackers might gain access to administrative functions through session hijacking or credential theft mechanisms. This represents a significant concern for academic institutions and publishing organizations that rely on OJS for managing sensitive scholarly content and user data.
The security implications of CVE-2024-24511 align with ATT&CK technique T1531 which focuses on the use of external remote services for persistence and command execution. The vulnerability creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent access within journal management systems and could enable data exfiltration from sensitive academic databases. Organizations utilizing OJS version 3.4 should immediately implement mitigation strategies including input validation enhancements, output encoding mechanisms, and comprehensive security monitoring protocols. The vulnerability's remediation requires careful attention to the Input Title component's data handling procedures and may involve database schema modifications to prevent malicious code injection.
Security professionals should consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies as additional protective measures against similar vulnerabilities in the broader OJS ecosystem. The affected platform's architecture may require comprehensive code review processes to identify and address related input validation weaknesses throughout the application's interface components. Organizations should also establish incident response procedures specifically designed to handle potential exploitation scenarios that could compromise academic publishing workflows and user privacy protections. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices within scholarly communication platforms that handle sensitive research data and institutional information.