CVE-2024-44063 in Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Happyforms allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Happyforms: from n/a through 1.26.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/10/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-44063 represents a critical security flaw in the Happyforms web application framework that enables stored cross-site scripting attacks. This issue manifests as improper neutralization of input during web page generation, creating a persistent vector for malicious code execution. The vulnerability affects all versions of Happyforms from the initial release through version 1.26.0, indicating a long-standing weakness in the input sanitization mechanisms. The root cause stems from insufficient validation and sanitization of user-provided data that is subsequently rendered in web pages without proper encoding or escaping, allowing malicious payloads to be stored and executed in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when user input containing malicious script code is accepted by the Happyforms application and stored in its database or processing systems. When subsequent users view pages that display this stored content, the malicious scripts execute in their browsers, potentially stealing session cookies, redirecting traffic, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of victims. This stored XSS variant is particularly dangerous because the malicious code persists across multiple user sessions and can affect numerous individuals without requiring repeated exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable complete compromise of user sessions and potentially provide attackers with elevated privileges within the application. Attackers can craft malicious form submissions that include script tags or other malicious payloads designed to exploit the lack of input sanitization. Once executed, these scripts can perform actions such as stealing authentication tokens, modifying form data, or redirecting users to malicious sites. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that the vulnerability remains active even after the initial exploitation, creating ongoing risk for all users who encounter the affected content. Organizations using Happyforms versions within the affected range face significant exposure to these attacks without proper mitigation measures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-44063 should prioritize immediate version upgrades to patched releases of Happyforms, as this represents the most effective approach to eliminating the vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures that properly encode all user-provided content before storage and rendering. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection layers against script execution, while regular security auditing of form processing components should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. Security teams should also consider deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block known XSS attack patterns, though these should complement rather than replace proper input sanitization. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of input validation in web applications and serves as a reminder of the persistent threat that inadequate sanitization poses to web security infrastructure.