CVE-2024-30552 in Responsive flipbook Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/01/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in wppdf.Org Responsive flipbook allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Responsive flipbook: from n/a through 1.0.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the wppdf.Org Responsive flipbook plugin that enables stored XSS attacks. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization during the web page generation process, allowing malicious actors to inject persistent malicious scripts into the plugin's output. The vulnerability specifically affects versions ranging from an unspecified initial state through version 1.0.0, indicating that the flaw has been present in the codebase for an extended period without proper remediation. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation as a primary weakness leading to XSS attacks. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that malicious payloads persist in the application's database and are executed whenever legitimate users access the affected pages, making it particularly dangerous for user data and system integrity.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs when the plugin processes user-supplied content or parameters that are then rendered in web pages without proper sanitization. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious input that gets stored in the plugin's database or configuration files, and then executed when other users view pages containing this data. This creates a persistent threat vector where the malicious code runs in the context of the victim's browser, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of users, or redirect them to malicious sites. The vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the principle of least privilege and input validation, where the application does not properly escape or filter user-controllable data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers the exploitation of web applications through injection attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can compromise entire user sessions and potentially provide attackers with elevated privileges within the affected web application. When legitimate users interact with pages containing stored malicious content, their browsers execute the injected scripts, which can lead to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or further compromise of the application environment. The vulnerability affects not just individual user experiences but can potentially impact multiple users simultaneously, depending on how the stored data is accessed and displayed. Organizations using this plugin face significant risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential compromise of their entire WordPress installation if proper security measures are not implemented. The long timeframe of vulnerability exposure suggests that many installations may already be compromised, making immediate remediation critical. The flaw represents a fundamental security oversight in the plugin's architecture, where input handling should have been implemented with proper encoding and validation mechanisms to prevent malicious content from being stored and executed.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the Responsive flipbook plugin to the latest secure version, followed by comprehensive scanning of affected installations for signs of compromise. Security teams should implement input validation and output encoding measures at multiple layers of the application stack, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before storage or rendering. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins and themes. Additionally, organizations should implement web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional protection layers against XSS attacks. The remediation process must also include monitoring for unauthorized changes to the plugin files and database entries, as well as educating users about the risks of interacting with untrusted content. According to industry best practices, this vulnerability should be treated as a high-priority security issue requiring immediate attention, as the stored XSS nature makes it particularly dangerous for long-term system compromise.