CVE-2024-35699 in HT Feed Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/08/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in HasThemes HT Feed allows Stored XSS.This issue affects HT Feed: from n/a through 1.2.8.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-35699 represents a critical security flaw in the HasThemes HT Feed plugin that enables stored cross-site scripting attacks. This weakness occurs during the web page generation process where user input is inadequately sanitized before being rendered back to users, creating an environment where malicious scripts can persist and execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically affects versions of the HT Feed plugin ranging from the initial release through version 1.2.8, indicating a prolonged period where this security gap existed.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from improper input validation and sanitization within the plugin's content handling mechanisms. When users submit data through the feed generation interface, the system fails to properly escape or encode special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that are then stored within the plugin's database or processing system. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that once malicious input is accepted and processed, it remains persistent and will execute whenever affected pages are loaded by other users, making it particularly dangerous for content management systems where multiple users interact with shared data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to complete session hijacking, data theft, and unauthorized administrative actions. Attackers can exploit this weakness to steal cookies, gain access to user accounts, and potentially escalate privileges within the affected WordPress environment. The stored nature of the XSS vector means that victims do not need to interact with a specific malicious link, as the attack executes automatically when they view pages containing the malicious content. This characteristic significantly increases the attack surface and makes the vulnerability particularly effective for mass exploitation campaigns.
Security professionals should note this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1566.001 - Phishing, as attackers can leverage stored XSS to create convincing malicious content that appears legitimate to end users. The impact is particularly severe in WordPress environments where plugins often have elevated privileges and can access sensitive data. Organizations using HasThemes HT Feed should immediately implement mitigation strategies including immediate plugin updates to versions that address this flaw, implementing content security policies to limit script execution, and conducting thorough security audits of all user-submitted content to identify and remediate any existing malicious payloads that may have been injected through this vulnerability.