CVE-2024-29812 in ReviewX Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/27/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in ReviewX allows Stored XSS.This issue affects ReviewX: from n/a through 1.6.22.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-29812 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the ReviewX web application that enables stored XSS attacks. This weakness occurs during the web page generation process where input validation and sanitization mechanisms fail to properly neutralize malicious user-supplied data. The vulnerability exists in ReviewX versions ranging from an unspecified initial version through 1.6.22, indicating a prolonged period during which the application remained susceptible to this type of attack vector.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input processing within the application's content generation pipeline. When users submit data through various input fields or comment sections, the system does not sufficiently sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as executable script code by web browsers. This failure in input neutralization creates an environment where attackers can inject malicious javascript payloads that persist in the application's database and execute whenever affected pages are rendered to other users. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious code becomes permanent within the application's data storage, amplifying the potential impact and making it particularly dangerous for long-term persistence.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. An attacker who successfully exploits this stored XSS vulnerability can execute arbitrary javascript code in the context of any user's browser who views the affected content. This capability enables a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, redirection to malicious websites, data exfiltration, and potential privilege escalation within the application. The vulnerability affects all users who interact with the ReviewX application, making it a significant threat to user privacy and application security. The stored nature of the attack means that even users who do not directly interact with the vulnerable input fields can be compromised when they view pages containing the malicious content.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data flow. The primary defense involves applying proper HTML escaping and sanitization to all user-supplied content before it is stored in the database and rendered back to users. This approach aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities and recommends defensive programming practices including input validation, output encoding, and the use of secure coding standards. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and employ regular security scanning to identify similar vulnerabilities. The most effective immediate solution is to upgrade to ReviewX version 1.6.23 or later where the stored XSS vulnerability has been patched, while also implementing proper web application firewall rules to detect and block suspicious input patterns. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and following the principle of least privilege in web application development to prevent persistent attack vectors that can compromise entire user bases.