CVE-2024-31091 in Custom Field Bulk Editor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/01/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in SparkWeb Interactive, Inc. Custom Field Bulk Editor allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects Custom Field Bulk Editor: from n/a through 1.9.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2025
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists within the Custom Field Bulk Editor component of SparkWeb Interactive's web application platform, specifically impacting versions ranging from the initial release through 1.9.1. The flaw represents a classic reflected cross-site scripting attack vector where malicious input is not properly sanitized or escaped during the web page generation process, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability occurs when user-supplied input containing script code is reflected back to the browser without adequate neutralization, creating an opportunity for attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of the victim's browser session. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a critical security weakness in web applications that enables attackers to bypass access controls and potentially steal session cookies, credentials, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users. The reflected nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious payload is typically delivered via a specially crafted URL or form submission that, when clicked or submitted, causes the server to reflect the malicious input back to the user's browser. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which describes the use of malicious links or payloads delivered through web-based attacks to compromise user sessions and execute unauthorized code in the victim's browser environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the Custom Field Bulk Editor component. When users interact with the bulk editor functionality, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-provided data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. This oversight allows malicious actors to inject script tags, event handlers, or other malicious code snippets that execute in the browser context of other users who view the affected pages. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the bulk editing functionality, which typically handles user data input and displays it within web interfaces. Attackers could craft malicious payloads that leverage the reflected XSS to steal session tokens, redirect users to malicious websites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can potentially enable more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, credential theft, or data exfiltration from the compromised user's browser environment. The vulnerability's scope is limited to the affected versions of the Custom Field Bulk Editor, suggesting that the issue was introduced in a specific code change or feature implementation that failed to implement proper input sanitization mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations using the affected SparkWeb Interactive platform, as it creates a persistent attack surface that can be exploited by threat actors without requiring elevated privileges or complex attack chains. An attacker could construct malicious URLs containing script payloads that, when clicked by an authenticated user, would execute in the victim's browser context and potentially allow the attacker to access sensitive data or perform actions within the application. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that successful exploitation typically requires social engineering to convince users to click malicious links, but once executed, the attack can be highly effective in compromising user sessions and data integrity. Organizations relying on this bulk editor functionality for managing custom fields in their web applications face increased risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential compromise of user authentication tokens. The vulnerability could also enable attackers to escalate privileges within the application context, particularly if the affected users have administrative or elevated access rights. Security teams would need to monitor for exploitation attempts and implement immediate mitigations to protect their user base from potential attacks that could leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive business data or user information.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent script injection in all user-facing components of the Custom Field Bulk Editor. The most effective approach involves implementing proper HTML escaping and sanitization of all user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages, which aligns with security best practices outlined in OWASP's XSS prevention guidelines and the CWE-79 mitigation strategies. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed within the application context. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar input validation gaps in other components of the SparkWeb Interactive platform, particularly focusing on areas where user data is processed and displayed. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block common XSS attack patterns, while maintaining detailed logging of user interactions with the bulk editor functionality to enable threat detection and incident response activities. The vulnerability requires immediate patching or mitigation as it represents a direct threat to user session integrity and application security, with potential for significant data exposure and unauthorized access if left unaddressed.