CVE-2024-39629 in Himalayas Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/02/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in ThemeGrill Himalayas allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Himalayas: from n/a through 1.3.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-39629 represents a critical security flaw in the ThemeGrill Himalayas WordPress theme that enables stored cross-site scripting attacks. This issue falls under the well-documented category of CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into web page content. The vulnerability manifests in the theme's handling of user-generated content that gets stored and subsequently rendered on web pages, creating a persistent security risk for all users of affected versions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when malicious input is accepted through form fields or other user interaction points within the theme's interface. This input is then stored in the database without proper sanitization or encoding mechanisms, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute whenever the affected web page is loaded. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that once an attacker successfully injects malicious code, it persists and affects all users who view the compromised content, making it particularly dangerous for websites with multiple contributors or user-generated content features. The vulnerability affects all versions of the Himalayas theme from the initial release through version 1.3.2, indicating a long-standing flaw that has not been adequately addressed.
From an operational perspective, this stored XSS vulnerability presents significant risks to both website administrators and end users. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect visitors to malicious sites, or even inject malware delivery mechanisms. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers can potentially escalate privileges, modify website content, or use the compromised site as a launching point for further attacks against the broader network. The vulnerability's persistence means that even after initial exploitation, the malicious payload continues to affect users until the stored content is removed or the theme is updated, creating an ongoing security threat that requires immediate attention.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-39629 must focus on both immediate remediation and long-term prevention measures. The most critical step is updating to a patched version of the ThemeGrill Himalayas theme where the input sanitization has been properly implemented. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar issues in custom-developed applications. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as attackers may use this vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads through compromised websites. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers and regular security audits can help detect and prevent similar input sanitization failures. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all WordPress themes and plugins to identify potential XSS vulnerabilities and ensure proper neutralization of user input across all web applications.