CVE-2024-47621 in Zotpress Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/05/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Katie Zotpress zotpress allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Zotpress: from n/a through <= 7.3.10.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2026
The CVE-2024-47621 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Katie Zotpress plugin, specifically impacting versions through 7.3.10. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, where insufficient input sanitization during web page generation creates opportunities for malicious script injection. The flaw manifests as a stored XSS vulnerability, meaning that malicious payloads can be permanently stored on the server and subsequently executed whenever affected pages are accessed by unsuspecting users. This particular implementation affects the Zotpress plugin which is commonly used for displaying bibliographic information and references within wordpress environments, making it a significant concern for websites that rely on academic or research content management.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when user-supplied input containing malicious scripts is not properly sanitized or escaped before being rendered in web pages. Attackers can leverage this weakness by injecting malicious javascript code through input fields that are intended for bibliographic data entry, such as author names, titles, or publication details. When other users access pages containing this stored malicious content, the injected scripts execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious code persists even after the initial injection, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over extended periods without requiring repeated exploitation attempts.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-47621 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack vectors within wordpress environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, steal administrative credentials, or manipulate content displayed on the website. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of Zotpress which is often used in academic institutions, research organizations, and content management systems where trusted user input is expected. This creates a significant risk for organizations that store sensitive bibliographic data, user information, or institutional content within these platforms. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious content, and T1059.007 for execution through scripting languages, demonstrating how this flaw can serve as a gateway for broader compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-47621 require immediate patching of the affected Zotpress plugin to version 7.3.11 or later, as this represents the official fix for the stored XSS vulnerability. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar issues in other components of their web applications. Security measures should include regular security audits of wordpress plugins, implementation of content security policies, and monitoring for unauthorized modifications to bibliographic content. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls and restricting user privileges for content management functions to minimize potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input sanitization and output escaping as fundamental security practices that align with OWASP Top Ten security controls for preventing cross-site scripting attacks.