CVE-2024-24889 in All 404 Pages Redirect to Homepage Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/12/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Geek Code Lab All 404 Pages Redirect to Homepage allows Stored XSS.This issue affects All 404 Pages Redirect to Homepage: from n/a through 1.9.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-24889 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within the Geek Code Lab All 404 Pages Redirect to Homepage plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability manifests when the plugin processes user input during the generation of web pages, specifically in how it handles 404 error page redirection functionality. The issue stems from improper neutralization of input data that flows into the web page generation process, creating an environment where malicious scripts can be persistently stored and executed. The vulnerability affects all versions from n/a through 1.9, indicating a long-standing flaw that has remained unpatched for an extended period. This stored XSS vulnerability occurs because the plugin fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data that is subsequently rendered in the browser context. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code into the plugin's handling of 404 page redirects, which then gets stored and executed whenever the affected page is accessed. This particular vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads through crafted 404 redirect attempts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of any user's browser who visits the affected website. This creates numerous attack vectors including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and the potential for further exploitation through browser-based attacks. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once malicious input is injected, it persists on the server and affects all users who encounter the 404 page redirection, making the attack surface much broader than typical reflected XSS scenarios. Attackers could craft malicious URLs that, when processed by the vulnerable plugin, store JavaScript payloads that would execute whenever legitimate users access the site's error pages. The vulnerability essentially allows for a persistent backdoor mechanism within the website's error handling system, making it particularly dangerous for websites that rely heavily on 404 page redirection for user experience or SEO purposes. Given that this affects a plugin designed to handle error pages, any user interaction with the site's broken links or misconfigured URLs could trigger the execution of malicious code.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-24889 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to the latest available version that contains the necessary security patches. System administrators should implement comprehensive input validation and output escaping mechanisms for all user-supplied data, particularly in error handling and redirection contexts. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against script execution, though this is not a substitute for proper input sanitization. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their WordPress installations to identify all potentially vulnerable plugins and themes, implementing automated monitoring for similar vulnerabilities. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block malicious payloads, though they should not be relied upon as the sole defense mechanism. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of regular security audits and patch management processes, as this flaw has remained unaddressed across multiple versions. Security teams should also implement user education programs to prevent social engineering attacks that might exploit this vulnerability, particularly focusing on the dangers of clicking on suspicious links that could trigger the stored XSS payload. The issue demonstrates the necessity of following secure coding practices, specifically ensuring that all user input is properly escaped and validated before being rendered in web page contexts, aligning with industry standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and the ISO/IEC 27001 security framework.