CVE-2024-28001 in Favicon Rotator Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/28/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Archetyped Favicon Rotator allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects Favicon Rotator: from n/a through 1.2.10.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2025
The CVE-2024-28001 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Archetyped Favicon Rotator plugin, specifically impacting versions ranging from the initial release through 1.2.10. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category, which defines improper neutralization of input during web page generation as a fundamental weakness in web application security. The flaw manifests as a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability, meaning that malicious input is immediately reflected back to users without proper sanitization or encoding, creating a direct pathway for attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of affected web pages.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the Favicon Rotator plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. When users interact with the plugin's functionality, particularly through parameters that control favicon display or configuration, the input data is not adequately escaped or filtered, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code. This reflected nature means that the malicious payload is delivered via a crafted URL or form submission, which is then executed in the victim's browser when they access the compromised page, making the attack vector highly accessible and potentially widespread.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to perform session hijacking, defacement of web pages, data theft from authenticated users, and potential lateral movement within affected systems. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal cookies, manipulate user sessions, redirect victims to malicious sites, or even exploit it as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks. The reflected XSS nature makes this particularly dangerous in environments where users might be tricked into clicking malicious links, especially in contexts where the plugin is used on high-traffic websites or in administrative interfaces where privileged users interact with the plugin's features.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies including updating to the latest version of the Favicon Rotator plugin where the XSS flaw has been patched, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, and conducting thorough security assessments of all web applications that utilize this plugin. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for Scripting, as it enables attackers to execute code through the web interface. Additionally, the vulnerability aligns with T1531 for Account Access, as session hijacking capabilities can lead to unauthorized access to user accounts and administrative privileges. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls, content security policies, and regular security scanning to detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while maintaining awareness of the specific input vectors that trigger this reflected XSS condition in the plugin's codebase.