CVE-2024-30554 in DD Rating Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/01/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Wouter Dijkstra DD Rating allows Stored XSS.This issue affects DD Rating: from n/a through 1.7.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-30554 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the DD Rating plugin developed by Wouter Dijkstra. This weakness falls under the category of improper input neutralization during web page generation, creating a persistent security risk that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability specifically manifests as a stored cross-site scripting attack, meaning that malicious code injected by an attacker can be permanently stored on the server and subsequently executed whenever affected pages are accessed by legitimate users. The affected version range spans from an unspecified initial version through 1.7.1, indicating that multiple iterations of the plugin contained this security flaw.
This vulnerability operates through a fundamental failure in input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the DD Rating plugin's web page generation process. When users submit data through the plugin's interface, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied content before storing and rendering it in web pages. The stored XSS vulnerability occurs because the system does not adequately neutralize potentially malicious input that could contain script tags or other executable code. Attackers can exploit this by submitting crafted payloads through the plugin's input fields, which are then stored in the database and executed in the context of other users' browsers when they view the affected content. This creates a persistent threat vector where malicious scripts can execute automatically without requiring user interaction beyond the initial injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with the ability to establish persistent access to user sessions and execute arbitrary code within the browser context of affected users. The stored nature of this XSS attack means that the malicious payload remains active even after the initial injection, potentially allowing attackers to harvest session cookies, perform actions on behalf of users, or redirect them to malicious sites. This vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing the prevention of cross-site scripting attacks and improper input handling. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566 for credential access, as attackers can leverage the stored XSS to harvest authentication tokens and escalate privileges within the affected application environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-30554 require immediate action to address the root cause through comprehensive input sanitization and output encoding. System administrators should prioritize updating the DD Rating plugin to a version that resolves this vulnerability, as the affected range indicates multiple versions contained this flaw. The recommended approach includes implementing strict input validation that filters out potentially malicious characters and patterns, combined with proper output encoding that prevents script execution in web contexts. Security measures should also incorporate Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. Additionally, regular security audits should be conducted to identify and remediate similar input validation weaknesses across all web applications. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems that can detect and block suspicious input patterns, while also establishing secure coding practices that prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future development cycles. The remediation process must ensure that all user-supplied data undergoes proper sanitization before being stored or rendered in web contexts, following the principle of least privilege and defense in depth strategies to protect against this and related attack vectors.