CVE-2024-27992 in Link Whisper Free Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/11/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Link Whisper Link Whisper Free allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects Link Whisper Free: from n/a through 0.6.8.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2025
This vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw that exploits improper input handling during web page generation within the Link Whisper Free application. The vulnerability specifically manifests as a reflected cross-site scripting attack, where malicious input is reflected back to users through the application's web interface without proper sanitization or encoding. The flaw exists in the application's processing of user-supplied data that is subsequently rendered in web pages, creating an avenue for attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Link Whisper Free application's web generation pipeline. When user-provided parameters are directly incorporated into dynamically generated web content without proper sanitization, the application becomes susceptible to XSS attacks. This weakness allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that, when executed, can steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect them to malicious sites. The vulnerability affects all versions from the initial release through version 0.6.8, indicating a persistent flaw in the application's input handling architecture that was not adequately addressed during development cycles.
The operational impact of this reflected XSS vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack vectors including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to impersonate legitimate users and access sensitive information or perform unauthorized operations within the application's context. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload must be delivered through external means such as email links or malicious websites, where users are tricked into clicking on crafted URLs that contain the XSS payload. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users may encounter untrusted web content or where social engineering attacks are prevalent.
Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding strategies to mitigate this vulnerability, following established security frameworks such as those recommended by the Open Web Application Security Project. The flaw aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, and represents a direct violation of secure coding practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten. Mitigation efforts should include implementing proper HTML escaping for all user-supplied input, deploying content security policies, and ensuring that all dynamic content generation includes robust sanitization mechanisms. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in the application's codebase. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1531 which covers the use of malicious scripts to gain access to user sessions, highlighting the potential for privilege escalation and persistent access through this XSS vector.