CVE-2024-37246 in Gallery Slideshow Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/22/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Jethin Gallery Slideshow allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Gallery Slideshow: from n/a through 1.4.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in the Jethin Gallery Slideshow plugin that enables stored XSS attacks. The flaw occurs during web page generation when user input is improperly sanitized or escaped before being rendered in HTML output. Attackers can exploit this by injecting malicious scripts into the gallery's content management interface, which then gets stored and executed whenever the affected page is viewed by other users. The vulnerability spans all versions from the initial release through 1.4.1, indicating a long-standing security gap that has not been adequately addressed. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, where inadequate input validation and output encoding create opportunities for malicious code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of other users' browsers. When legitimate users view gallery pages containing malicious payloads, their browsers execute the injected scripts, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The stored nature of this XSS means that once the malicious input is submitted and saved, it persists in the application's database and affects all subsequent visitors without requiring repeated exploitation attempts. This characteristic significantly amplifies the attack surface and makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users interact with the gallery content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution to potentially compromise entire user sessions and sensitive data. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to steal cookies, modify gallery content, or redirect users to phishing sites that mimic legitimate interfaces. The vulnerability affects the plugin's ability to properly sanitize user inputs during the slideshow generation process, creating persistent attack vectors that can be exploited by both authenticated and unauthenticated users depending on the plugin's access controls. This type of vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which covers "Run-time Process Injection" and T1203 which addresses "Exploitation for Client Execution" in the context of web-based attacks.
Organizations using this plugin should immediately implement mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and proper sanitization of all user-provided content before storage or rendering. The recommended approach involves implementing Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution, enforcing strict input validation on all gallery submission fields, and ensuring that all user-generated content is properly escaped before being rendered in HTML contexts. Regular security updates and patch management procedures should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in the application ecosystem. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious input patterns can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts before they succeed in compromising user sessions or data integrity.