CVE-2024-39648 in Eventin Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/02/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Themewinter Eventin allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Eventin: from n/a through 4.0.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness that undermines the security posture of the Eventin WordPress plugin developed by Themewinter. The flaw exists in the web page generation process where user input is inadequately sanitized before being rendered in web pages, creating an environment where malicious scripts can be persistently stored and executed. The vulnerability specifically affects versions ranging from the initial release through version 4.0.5, indicating a long-standing issue that has not been properly addressed. This stored XSS vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that will execute whenever users view affected pages, potentially compromising user sessions and enabling further attack vectors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the plugin's codebase. When users submit content through forms or other interactive elements within the Eventin plugin, the system fails to properly neutralize potentially malicious input before storing it in the database. This stored data is then retrieved and displayed on subsequent page loads without adequate sanitization, creating the perfect conditions for XSS exploitation. The vulnerability manifests as a failure to properly escape or encode user-supplied data, which directly corresponds to CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, a fundamental weakness in web application security that has been documented for decades. This weakness allows attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking. Attackers can leverage this stored XSS to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of authenticated users' browsers, potentially enabling them to perform actions on behalf of victims. This includes accessing sensitive administrative functions, modifying event data, stealing cookies, or redirecting users to malicious sites. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that once the malicious payload is injected, it will continue to affect all users who view the affected content until the vulnerability is patched. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as attackers can craft malicious payloads that users will unknowingly execute when viewing event pages. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability affects a widely used event management plugin, potentially exposing thousands of websites to compromise.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the Eventin plugin to version 4.0.6 or later, which should contain the necessary security fixes. Administrators should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application, ensuring that all user-supplied content is properly sanitized before storage and rendering. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, while regular security audits of plugin code should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices, as outlined in OWASP Top Ten security guidelines, and highlights the necessity of maintaining up-to-date software to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.