CVE-2024-43334 in Themes
Summary
by MITRE • 07/07/2025
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Gavias Halpes allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects Halpes: from n/a before 1.2.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2025
This vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw that exploits improper input handling during web page generation within the Gavias Halpes WordPress theme. The reflected XSS vulnerability occurs when user-supplied input is not properly sanitized or escaped before being rendered back to the browser in web page content. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when executed, can steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect them to malicious sites. The vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 1.2.5, indicating this was a known issue that required a patch release to address the security gap in the theme's input processing mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this flaw demonstrates a failure in the principle of input validation and output encoding, which are fundamental security practices in web application development. When user input flows through the application without proper sanitization, it becomes susceptible to injection attacks that can execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of the victim's browser. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and it aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments or links. The reflected nature of this XSS means that the malicious script is reflected off the web server rather than being stored, making it particularly dangerous for targeted attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking. An attacker could leverage this flaw to manipulate the user interface of the affected website, inject malicious advertisements, or perform more sophisticated attacks such as credential harvesting or privilege escalation within the compromised user session. Since this affects a WordPress theme, the attack surface could potentially impact multiple websites running the vulnerable version, especially if the theme is widely distributed or used by multiple organizations. The vulnerability's presence in the web page generation process means that any functionality relying on user input could be exploited, including contact forms, comment sections, or search features that pass parameters through the URL.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to version 1.2.5 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input sanitization issues. Additionally, implementing proper input validation at multiple layers, including server-side validation and output encoding, can provide defense-in-depth measures. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious URL parameters and user agent patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The fix should incorporate proper HTML entity encoding for all dynamic content and implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities. Regular security assessments of WordPress themes and plugins are essential to identify similar vulnerabilities that could compromise the entire web application ecosystem.