CVE-2024-47644 in Copyscape Premium Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/05/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Copyscape Copyscape Premium copyscape-premium allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Copyscape Premium: from n/a through <= 1.3.9.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-47644 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Copyscape Premium web application that enables stored XSS attacks. This weakness resides in the improper neutralization of input during web page generation processes, creating a persistent security risk for users interacting with the platform. The vulnerability specifically affects versions of Copyscape Premium ranging from the initial release through version 1.3.9, indicating a long-standing issue that has not been adequately addressed in the software's security architecture.
The technical flaw manifests when user-supplied input is not properly sanitized or encoded before being rendered in web pages, allowing malicious scripts to be stored on the server and subsequently executed in the context of other users' browsers. This stored XSS vulnerability occurs during the web page generation phase where input validation mechanisms fail to adequately filter or escape potentially harmful content. The flaw falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a classic example of how inadequate input sanitization can lead to persistent security breaches.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability exposes users to significant risks including session hijacking, credential theft, and potential data exfiltration. Attackers can inject malicious scripts that execute in the victim's browser context, potentially allowing them to access sensitive information, modify content, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once malicious input is submitted, it remains persistent and affects all users who view the affected pages until the malicious content is removed or the vulnerability is patched. This makes the attack vector particularly dangerous as it can compromise multiple users over extended periods without requiring repeated exploitation attempts.
The security implications extend beyond immediate user compromise to include potential damage to the application's integrity and the organization's reputation. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to inject malicious code that redirects users to phishing sites, steals cookies, or performs other malicious activities. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1531 - Account Access Removal and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it provides attackers with persistent access to user sessions and enables command execution through browser-based payloads. Organizations using Copyscape Premium in their content verification workflows face elevated risk of data breaches and compromised user trust, particularly given that the vulnerability affects a premium service that likely handles sensitive content and user information.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, ensuring all user-supplied content is sanitized before storage and rendering. The software should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, employ proper HTML encoding for dynamic content, and conduct regular security testing to identify similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious input patterns, while users should be educated about the risks of submitting untrusted content to the platform. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation in web applications and the necessity of following secure coding practices to prevent persistent security flaws that can compromise entire user bases over time.