CVE-2024-34801 in Praison SEO WordPress Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/03/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Mervin Praison Praison SEO WordPress seo-wordpress allows DOM-Based XSS.This issue affects Praison SEO WordPress: from n/a through <= 4.0.15.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2026
The CVE-2024-34801 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Mervin Praison Praison SEO WordPress plugin, specifically manifesting as a DOM-based XSS vulnerability that poses significant risks to website security and user data integrity. This vulnerability exists in versions of the plugin ranging from the initial release through version 4.0.15, indicating a prolonged period during which the security flaw remained unaddressed. The issue stems from improper input neutralization during web page generation processes, where user-supplied data is not adequately sanitized before being incorporated into dynamic web content. This failure creates an exploitable entry point for malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages DOM-based cross-site scripting techniques, which differ from traditional reflected or stored XSS attacks by manipulating the Document Object Model directly through client-side script execution. The vulnerability occurs when the plugin fails to properly validate or escape input parameters that are subsequently processed within the browser's DOM structure, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the context of the victim's browser session. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security that enables attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the victim's browser. The attack typically involves crafting malicious input parameters that, when processed by the vulnerable plugin, get embedded into the DOM without proper sanitization, creating persistent script execution points.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious websites. When an authenticated user visits a compromised page, the injected scripts can access the user's session cookies, potentially allowing attackers to impersonate the user and gain unauthorized access to administrative functions within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability particularly threatens WordPress sites that rely on the affected plugin for SEO functionality, as it can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious links, compromised advertisements, or social engineering tactics that trick users into visiting infected pages. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 (Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment) and T1584.002 (Compromise Infrastructure: Command and Control) as attackers can leverage the XSS to establish persistent access and control over compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-34801 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the identified XSS vulnerability, as this represents the most effective defense against exploitation. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout their web applications, particularly focusing on DOM-based XSS prevention techniques that ensure all dynamic content is properly sanitized before insertion into the browser DOM. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all installed WordPress plugins to identify similar weaknesses and establish automated monitoring systems that can detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded, thereby limiting the impact of successful XSS attacks. The remediation process should also include user education regarding the dangers of visiting untrusted websites and clicking suspicious links, as social engineering remains a common initial vector for exploiting such vulnerabilities. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure that similar input validation flaws do not exist in other components of the web application ecosystem.