CVE-2024-49642 in Todo Custom Field Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/29/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in rafasashi Todo Custom Field todo-custom-field allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects Todo Custom Field: from n/a through <= 3.0.4.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2026
The vulnerability CVE-2024-49642 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the rafasashi Todo Custom Field plugin for WordPress, specifically impacting versions ranging from the initial release through version 3.0.4. This reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability arises from improper input sanitization during web page generation processes, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a classic example of reflected XSS attacks that have been documented in cybersecurity literature for decades. The attack vector exploits the plugin's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input parameters before incorporating them into dynamically generated web content, allowing attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the plugin processes user input through HTTP request parameters without adequate validation or encoding mechanisms. When a malicious user crafts a specially formatted URL containing script tags within the input parameters, the plugin fails to neutralize these inputs during the page generation phase, resulting in the reflected script executing in the victim's browser. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no persistent storage of malicious content, making it easier to exploit and harder to detect through traditional security monitoring approaches. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload is immediately reflected back to the user through the web application's response, making the attack instantaneous and highly effective in phishing scenarios or session hijacking attempts. This weakness directly violates the principle of input validation and output encoding that forms the foundation of secure web application development practices.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-49642 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or even modify the functionality of the affected web pages. In a WordPress environment, this vulnerability could allow an attacker to gain unauthorized access to administrative functions if users with elevated privileges click on malicious links. The reflected nature of the attack means that the malicious script is executed in the context of the victim's session, potentially allowing attackers to perform actions such as creating new users, modifying content, or accessing sensitive data. This vulnerability particularly affects WordPress sites using the rafasashi Todo Custom Field plugin, where users may be tricked into clicking malicious links through social engineering techniques, email campaigns, or compromised websites that redirect users to exploit the vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-49642 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the reflected XSS vulnerability, as the vendor has likely released patches to correct the improper input handling. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being incorporated into web page content. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against reflected XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed within the browser context. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar input validation flaws in other custom plugins or themes. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1203 technique for "Exploitation for Client Execution" and the T1566 technique for "Phishing," highlighting the social engineering aspects of exploiting reflected XSS vulnerabilities. Network monitoring should include detection of suspicious URL parameters and unusual traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and security scanning tools can help identify and block malicious requests before they can be processed by the vulnerable plugin. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be enforced across all WordPress installations to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.