CVE-2024-35646 in Message Bar Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/02/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Erez Hadas-Sonnenschein Smartarget Message Bar smartarget-message-bar.This issue affects Smartarget Message Bar: from n/a through <= 1.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2026
The CVE-2024-35646 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Smartarget Message Bar plugin, a web application component designed to display targeted messages on websites. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically classified as improper neutralization of input during web page generation. The flaw exists in the plugin's handling of user-supplied data that gets rendered into web pages without adequate sanitization or encoding mechanisms. The affected version range indicates that all versions up to and including 1.5 are vulnerable, suggesting this represents a long-standing issue that has not been properly addressed in the plugin's codebase. The vulnerability occurs when the plugin processes input parameters or user-generated content that should be treated as safe but instead gets directly embedded into HTML output, creating opportunities for malicious script execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to inject malicious scripts into input fields or parameters that the Smartarget Message Bar processes and subsequently displays on web pages. When a user visits a page containing the vulnerable plugin, the malicious code gets executed in the context of the user's browser, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions, or redirect users to malicious sites. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection as it can enable more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, data exfiltration, and persistent malicious code execution. The flaw demonstrates inadequate input validation and output encoding practices that violate fundamental web security principles. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1531 and T1059.007, representing external remote code execution and command and scripting interpreter techniques. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the user-facing interface level where attackers can leverage social engineering to encourage users to interact with malicious content.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-35646 extends beyond immediate security breaches to encompass broader business and operational risks. Website administrators who have not updated to patched versions remain vulnerable to persistent attacks that can compromise user data, damage brand reputation, and potentially lead to regulatory compliance violations. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious comments, contact forms, or any user input field that the plugin processes. Organizations using this plugin may experience unauthorized access to sensitive information, as the XSS vulnerability allows attackers to execute scripts in the context of authenticated users. The attack surface is particularly wide because the plugin's functionality typically involves displaying dynamic content on websites, making it a prime target for exploitation. Security teams must consider the potential for chained attacks where this vulnerability serves as a stepping stone for more severe compromises, especially in environments where the plugin is widely deployed across multiple websites or applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-35646 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to the latest available version that contains the necessary security patches. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other parts of their web applications. The remediation process involves not only updating the vulnerable plugin but also conducting thorough security assessments of all web applications that may be using similar components. Security measures should include implementing Content Security Policy headers, regular security code reviews, and automated vulnerability scanning to identify potential XSS flaws in custom web applications. According to OWASP security guidelines, this vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing proper input sanitization and output encoding at every layer of web application development. Organizations should also establish incident response procedures that include monitoring for exploitation attempts and maintaining up-to-date threat intelligence regarding similar vulnerabilities in third-party components. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping all web application components updated and the necessity of implementing robust security controls throughout the software development lifecycle to prevent such flaws from reaching production environments.