CVE-2024-29770 in Shortlinks Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/27/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Pretty Links Shortlinks by Pretty Links allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects Shortlinks by Pretty Links: from n/a through 3.6.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2025
The CVE-2024-29770 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in the Pretty Links Shortlinks plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions ranging from an unspecified minimum to 3.6.2. This reflected cross-site scripting flaw arises from inadequate input sanitization during web page generation processes, creating a significant security risk for WordPress sites utilizing this plugin. The vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly neutralize user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content, allowing malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The issue manifests when the plugin processes reflected parameters without adequate validation or encoding, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser session.
This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting flaws in web applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this issue under T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to craft malicious web pages that redirect users to compromised content. The reflected nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious script is reflected off the web server rather than being stored on the server, making it particularly dangerous for targeted attacks. The vulnerability exists in the plugin's handling of input parameters during page generation, where user-provided data flows directly into HTML output without proper sanitization or encoding mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-29770 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. When exploited, this vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate the web application's behavior and potentially gain unauthorized access to user accounts, especially if users have administrative privileges. The reflected nature means that attackers can craft malicious URLs that, when clicked by victims, immediately execute the injected payload without requiring any persistent storage on the target server. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly effective for phishing campaigns and social engineering attacks where the attacker can deliver malicious payloads through email links or other web-based delivery mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate plugin updates to version 3.6.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the reflected XSS flaw. System administrators should also implement additional security measures including input validation at multiple layers, output encoding for all dynamic content, and regular security audits of installed plugins. The WordPress security community recommends deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests targeting known XSS patterns, while also implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution contexts. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected plugins or components, as similar input sanitization flaws may exist in other parts of the web application stack. Additionally, user education regarding suspicious links and email attachments remains crucial in defending against exploitation attempts that leverage this vulnerability.