CVE-2024-34548 in WidgetKit Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/08/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Themesgrove WidgetKit allows Stored XSS.This issue affects WidgetKit: from n/a through 2.4.8.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/31/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-34548 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Themesgrove WidgetKit plugin, specifically impacting versions through 2.4.8. This weakness falls under the category of improper input neutralization during web page generation, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject persistent scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to adequately sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content, allowing attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of affected websites.
This stored cross-site scripting vulnerability operates by permitting attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code through input fields that are subsequently stored within the plugin's database or configuration. When other users access pages that render this compromised content, the malicious scripts execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized administrative actions. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious payload persists even after the initial injection, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over extended periods without requiring repeated exploitation attempts. The vulnerability is classified as a CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to fully compromise user sessions and potentially gain administrative control over affected websites. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal cookies, modify website content, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that WidgetKit is a widely used plugin, meaning that numerous websites could be vulnerable to exploitation. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment and T1071.001 - Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols, as attackers can craft malicious payloads that appear legitimate to end users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-34548 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability, as Themesgrove has likely released patches to resolve the input sanitization issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities in their web applications, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being processed or displayed. Additionally, implementing content security policies and regular security audits of third-party plugins can help prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include thorough testing of updated versions to ensure that the XSS vulnerability has been properly addressed while maintaining existing functionality. Network monitoring and intrusion detection systems should also be configured to detect potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability pattern.