CVE-2024-47320 in WS Form Lite Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/06/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Mark Westguard WS Form LITE ws-form allows Stored XSS.This issue affects WS Form LITE: from n/a through <= 1.9.238.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-47320 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Mark Westguard WS Form LITE plugin, specifically impacting versions up to and including 1.9.238. This stored cross-site scripting vulnerability occurs during the web page generation process when user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to users. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to neutralize malicious script code injected by attackers through form submissions. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as improper neutralization of input during web page generation, which directly enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of affected user browsers. This type of vulnerability falls squarely within the ATT&CK framework under TA0001 Initial Access and TA0002 Execution phases, as it provides attackers with the means to establish persistent access and execute malicious payloads.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when authenticated users with form submission privileges interact with the WS Form LITE plugin, which processes user inputs without adequate sanitization. When malicious script code is submitted through form fields, it gets stored within the application's database or storage mechanisms and subsequently rendered back to other users browsing the affected pages. This stored nature of the vulnerability means that victims do not need to interact with a specific malicious link but rather encounter the malicious code during normal page viewing operations. The flaw exists in the plugin's input handling routines where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into HTML output without proper HTML entity encoding or script context sanitization, creating an environment where attackers can inject malicious JavaScript payloads that persist across multiple user sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, redirect users to malicious sites, or execute more sophisticated attacks through the compromised user context. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially access sensitive user data, modify form configurations, or use the compromised browser sessions to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the application's data processing environment, as it allows unauthorized code execution within the context of legitimate user sessions. This creates a persistent threat vector that can remain active until the vulnerability is patched, potentially affecting all users who interact with the affected forms and pages where the malicious code executes.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of the WS Form LITE plugin where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and output encoding. The recommended approach involves implementing comprehensive input validation that filters or escapes special characters in all user-submitted data before storage and rendering. Security measures should include HTML entity encoding of all dynamic content, implementing Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution, and conducting regular security reviews of form processing components. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block known XSS attack patterns, while also monitoring user activity for signs of unauthorized form modifications or suspicious data submissions. The mitigation strategy should align with industry best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks, emphasizing defense-in-depth approaches that include both preventive measures and detection capabilities to protect against similar vulnerabilities in other application components.