CVE-2024-25434 in ojs
Summary
by MITRE • 03/02/2024
A cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Pkp Ojs v3.3 allows attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML via a crafted payload injected into the Publicname parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2025
The cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-25434 affects the Public Knowledge Project Open Journal Systems version 3.3, representing a critical security flaw that compromises the integrity of web applications. This vulnerability exists within the parameter handling mechanism of the OJS platform, specifically targeting the Publicname parameter which is used to store and display user-generated content within the journal management system. The flaw enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code or HTML content that executes in the context of other users' browsers when they view affected pages. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires minimal privileges to exploit, making it accessible to a wide range of threat actors from script kiddies to sophisticated attackers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the OJS application's parameter processing logic. When the Publicname parameter is submitted through various user interface elements such as forms or API endpoints, the application fails to properly sanitize or encode the input before rendering it in web pages. This inadequate sanitization allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that contain script tags or other HTML elements that are executed when the content is displayed to legitimate users. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the presentation layer where user input directly influences the generated HTML content, creating an environment where persistent or reflected XSS attacks can occur. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a technique under T1566 - Phishing, where the malicious payload is delivered through compromised web interfaces rather than traditional email-based attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-25434 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration from authenticated user sessions. An attacker could craft a payload that steals session cookies from authenticated users, allowing them to impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to journal management features, submission systems, and administrative controls. The vulnerability could also be leveraged to redirect users to malicious websites, inject advertising content, or modify the appearance of the journal interface to deceive users into providing sensitive information. Given that OJS is widely used by academic institutions and research organizations, the potential for data compromise is significant, especially when considering that many journals may contain sensitive research data or personal information from authors and reviewers. The impact is further amplified by the fact that these systems often serve as central repositories for scholarly communication, making them attractive targets for advanced persistent threats.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective immediate solution involves sanitizing all user inputs, particularly those used in dynamic content generation, using established libraries such as HTML Purifier or OWASP Java HTML Sanitizer to remove or encode potentially dangerous characters and tags. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit the sources from which scripts can be loaded and prevent execution of inline JavaScript. Additionally, the application should enforce proper output encoding for all parameters before rendering them in HTML contexts, ensuring that special characters are properly escaped to prevent script execution. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other input parameters, as this represents a systemic issue in the application's data handling processes. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of keeping software components up-to-date with security patches and implementing proper access controls to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Organizations using OJS should monitor for official patches from the Public Knowledge Project and consider implementing web application firewalls as an additional protective layer.