CVE-2024-37537 in WS Contact Form Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/21/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in UusWeb.Ee WS Contact Form allows Stored XSS.This issue affects WS Contact Form: from n/a through 1.3.7.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-37537 represents a critical security flaw in the UusWeb.Ee WS Contact Form plugin that enables stored cross-site scripting attacks. This weakness occurs during the web page generation process where input data is not properly sanitized or neutralized before being rendered back to users. The vulnerability specifically manifests as an improper neutralization of input during web page generation, which aligns with CWE-79, the standard classification for cross-site scripting flaws. The affected version range spans from an unspecified initial version through 1.3.7, indicating that all iterations within this scope are potentially compromised.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into the contact form submissions that are then stored on the server and executed whenever the affected page is loaded. This stored XSS vector operates by bypassing the normal input validation mechanisms that should sanitize user-provided data before it is processed and displayed. When legitimate users access pages containing the maliciously stored content, their browsers execute the injected scripts, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability's persistence stems from the lack of proper output encoding or filtering during the web page generation phase, where user input flows directly into HTML contexts without adequate sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to perform sophisticated attacks against the website's visitors and administrators. Attackers can leverage this flaw to modify website content, steal user sessions, redirect traffic to phishing sites, or even deploy malware through browser-based exploits. The stored nature of this XSS means that the malicious payload remains persistent even after the initial injection, making it particularly dangerous for long-term compromise. This vulnerability affects not only the end users who interact with the contact form but also the website administrators who may unknowingly be exposed to malicious code when reviewing submitted messages.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-37537 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected WS Contact Form plugin to version 1.3.8 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities in their web applications, following the principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and the ATT&CK framework's web application attack patterns. Additionally, security measures such as content security policies, proper sanitization of user inputs, and regular security audits should be implemented to prevent future occurrences of this class of vulnerability. The remediation process should also include monitoring for any signs of exploitation and ensuring that all user inputs are properly escaped before being rendered in HTML contexts, as specified in the CWE-79 remediation guidelines.