CVE-2024-35697 in Eduma Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/08/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in ThimPress Eduma allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects Eduma: from n/a through 5.4.7.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the ThimPress Eduma learning management system that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by users. The vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a classic reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability. The issue affects all versions of Eduma from the initial release through version 5.4.7, indicating a long-standing security gap that has not been properly addressed. The reflected nature of this vulnerability means that malicious scripts are executed as part of a request from an attacker to the vulnerable application, typically through crafted URLs or form submissions that are then reflected back to the user's browser.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when user input is not properly sanitized or encoded before being included in dynamically generated web content. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious payloads that, when processed by the Eduma application, get executed in the context of other users' browsers. This creates a dangerous chain reaction where authenticated users could be redirected to malicious sites, have their session cookies stolen, or be subjected to further attacks through the compromised browser environment. The vulnerability specifically impacts the web page generation process where input parameters are directly incorporated into HTML output without adequate security measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with persistent access to user sessions and can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving client-side code injection and session hijacking, enabling adversaries to maintain long-term access to compromised systems. The reflected XSS nature allows attackers to deliver payloads through social engineering campaigns, phishing emails, or compromised websites that direct users to malicious URLs. This creates a significant risk for educational institutions using Eduma, as student and instructor data could be compromised, leading to unauthorized access to learning materials, grades, and personal information.
Organizations using affected versions of Eduma should immediately implement comprehensive mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and proper content security policies to prevent exploitation. The recommended approach involves implementing strict sanitization of all user inputs before rendering them in web pages, utilizing proper HTML encoding for dynamic content, and deploying content security policy headers to limit script execution. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests, while also planning for immediate version upgrades to patched releases. Regular security audits and user education about suspicious links and payloads should complement these technical controls to provide comprehensive protection against this class of vulnerability.