CVE-2024-42055 in Cervantes
Summary
by MITRE • 07/28/2024
Cervantes through 0.5-alpha allows stored XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2026
The Cervantes vulnerability identified as allowing stored cross-site scripting in version 0.5-alpha represents a critical security flaw that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web applications that persist in the system. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically targeting the stored variant where malicious code is permanently stored on the server and executed whenever users access the affected pages. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user inputs before storing them in databases or other persistent storage mechanisms, creating an environment where attackers can embed malicious JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation. When users interact with the vulnerable application, their browsers execute the stored scripts, potentially allowing attackers to impersonate legitimate users, access sensitive information, or modify application data. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that the malicious code remains active until explicitly removed from the application's storage, creating a long-term threat vector that can affect multiple users over extended periods. This vulnerability particularly affects web applications that process user-generated content without adequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1566.001 for Phishing and T1071.001 for Application Layer Protocol usage, as attackers can leverage the stored scripts to establish persistent access and exfiltrate data. The vulnerability's severity is compounded by its potential for automated exploitation through mass assignment techniques where attackers can inject scripts into multiple application components simultaneously. Organizations using Cervantes version 0.5-alpha face significant risk of unauthorized access and data compromise, as the stored XSS flaw can be exploited by attackers with minimal technical expertise to gain unauthorized access to user sessions and sensitive application data.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all user-facing application components. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers, proper HTML escaping, and input sanitization routines can effectively prevent stored XSS attacks by ensuring that malicious scripts are neutralized before being stored or executed. Additionally, developers should adopt secure coding practices that include parameterized queries, proper session management, and regular security testing including automated scanning and manual penetration testing to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of input validation and output encoding as fundamental security controls in web application development, with remediation efforts requiring immediate attention to prevent exploitation and ensure application integrity.