CVE-2024-37856 in Lost and Found Information System
Summary
by MITRE • 07/29/2024
Cross Site Scripting vulnerability in Lost and Found Information System 1.0 allows a remote attacker to escalate privileges via the first, last, middle name fields in the User Profile page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2026
The Cross Site Scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-37856 resides within the Lost and Found Information System version 1.0, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to manipulate user profile data fields. This vulnerability specifically targets the first, last, and middle name input fields on the User Profile page, creating an avenue for malicious code injection that can compromise user sessions and escalate privileges. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-79, which classifies cross-site scripting as a code injection vulnerability where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application's user profile management functionality. When users enter data into the name fields, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as executable code by web browsers. Attackers can leverage this weakness by injecting malicious scripts such as javascript payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers when they view the compromised profile information. This injection capability allows for session hijacking, credential theft, and potential privilege escalation attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple user sessions. Remote attackers can craft malicious inputs that, when stored and subsequently displayed, execute arbitrary code in victims' browsers, potentially leading to complete account compromise. The vulnerability's presence in user profile fields suggests that it could be exploited to target administrators or other privileged users whose profile information is frequently accessed. This scenario aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which describes valid accounts as a means of gaining access to systems and can be amplified by XSS vulnerabilities that enable session manipulation.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a significant risk to user privacy and system integrity within the Lost and Found Information System environment. The privilege escalation aspect indicates that attackers could potentially manipulate user roles or access controls through this vector, making it particularly dangerous for systems handling sensitive information. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill, making it attractive to threat actors seeking automated or semi-automated attack methods. Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation, output encoding, and Content Security Policy enforcement to prevent script execution in user-generated content fields.
The remediation approach must address both the immediate vulnerability and underlying architectural issues that allowed the flaw to exist. Input sanitization mechanisms should be strengthened to properly filter or escape potentially malicious characters before storing user profile data. The application should implement proper output encoding for all user-controllable data displayed in web pages, ensuring that any script content is rendered harmless. Additionally, security headers including Content Security Policy should be configured to prevent unauthorized script execution, while regular security testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other input fields and application components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and maintaining robust input validation as fundamental defenses against cross-site scripting attacks.