CVE-2024-37199 in Enfold Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/22/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Kriesi.At Enfold allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects Enfold: from n/a through 5.6.9.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-37199 represents a critical security flaw in the Kriesi.At Enfold WordPress theme that enables reflected cross-site scripting attacks. This weakness occurs during the web page generation process where input parameters are not properly sanitized or neutralized before being rendered back to users. The vulnerability specifically affects versions of the Enfold theme ranging from the initial release through version 5.6.9, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors targeting WordPress installations using this theme. The reflected nature of this XSS vulnerability means that an attacker can inject malicious scripts into web pages that are subsequently executed by other users who visit the affected pages, making this particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users interact with the same web application.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the Enfold theme's codebase. When user-supplied parameters are processed and directly embedded into HTML output without proper sanitization, attackers can craft malicious payloads that exploit this weakness. The flaw typically manifests when specific URL parameters or form inputs are passed through the theme's rendering engine without appropriate HTML escaping or context-aware encoding. This creates an environment where malicious JavaScript code can be injected and executed in the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a classic example of reflected cross-site scripting where the malicious payload is reflected off the web server back to the user agent.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-37199 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can facilitate more sophisticated attack vectors within the broader ATT&CK framework. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform session manipulation, steal cookies, or redirect users to malicious sites. The reflected nature of the vulnerability allows for targeted attacks where attackers craft specific URLs designed to exploit the flaw when clicked by victims, making it particularly effective for phishing campaigns or social engineering attacks. Organizations using affected Enfold versions face potential data breaches, compromised user accounts, and damage to their reputation. The vulnerability can be exploited through various vectors including email links, malicious advertisements, or compromised websites that direct users to vulnerable pages. This type of attack can be particularly insidious as it requires minimal user interaction beyond visiting a malicious page, and the reflected nature means that the attack payload is not stored on the server, making detection more challenging for security monitoring systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-37199 primarily focus on immediate remediation through theme updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability. System administrators should prioritize updating to the latest available version of the Enfold theme, as vendors typically release patches that implement proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious input patterns, input validation at multiple layers of the application stack, and regular security scanning of web applications for similar vulnerabilities. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Security teams should also conduct thorough code reviews focusing on input handling and output encoding practices, particularly in areas where user-supplied data is processed and rendered back to users. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing can help identify similar weaknesses in the broader application ecosystem, ensuring comprehensive protection against reflected XSS and related attack vectors.