CVE-2024-47339 in WP Mail Catcher Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/06/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in JWardee WP Mail Catcher wp-mail-catcher allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects WP Mail Catcher: from n/a through <= 2.1.9.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2026
The CVE-2024-47339 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the WP Mail Catcher plugin for WordPress, specifically impacting versions through 2.1.9. This reflected XSS vulnerability occurs during web page generation when the application fails to properly neutralize user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of input parameters that are processed and returned in HTTP responses, creating an attack vector where malicious actors can inject arbitrary JavaScript code into web pages viewed by other users. The flaw exists within the plugin's handling of user-supplied data that gets reflected back in the application's response without adequate encoding or validation measures.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows standard reflected XSS patterns where an attacker crafts malicious input parameters and sends them to a victim through social engineering or phishing techniques. When the victim's browser requests a page containing the malicious payload, the application reflects the script back to the user's browser, which then executes the injected JavaScript code. This allows attackers to perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, defacing web pages, or performing unauthorized actions within the context of the victim's session. The vulnerability specifically affects the plugin's web page generation process, where input data is not properly escaped or filtered before being rendered in HTML output contexts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can compromise the entire WordPress installation's security posture. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can establish persistent access to the compromised site, potentially leading to complete takeover of the WordPress environment. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the attack requires user interaction through a malicious link, making it particularly dangerous in social engineering campaigns where users might be tricked into clicking on crafted URLs. This vulnerability affects not just individual users but could potentially impact multiple site visitors depending on how the malicious payload is distributed and the plugin's usage patterns within the WordPress ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-47339 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability, as this represents the most effective defense against exploitation. System administrators should implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other parts of the application. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution, while regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes should be conducted to identify potential input sanitization gaps. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block known XSS attack patterns. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering tactics including phishing campaigns that leverage reflected XSS vulnerabilities for initial access into target systems.