CVE-2024-49643 in Whitelist Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/29/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in fifthsegment Whitelist fifthsegment-whitelist allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects Whitelist: from n/a through <= 3.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-49643 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness within the fifthsegment Whitelist plugin, specifically affecting versions up to and including 3.5. This flaw resides in the improper neutralization of input during web page generation processes, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary script code into web applications. The vulnerability manifests as a reflected cross-site scripting issue, meaning that malicious scripts are reflected off the web server to the user's browser, typically through manipulated URLs or form inputs. The affected plugin operates within the fifthsegment ecosystem, where user-provided data is not adequately sanitized before being rendered in web pages, allowing attackers to execute malicious code in the context of the victim's browser session. This particular vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses the improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a classic example of reflected cross-site scripting attacks that can compromise user sessions and potentially lead to full account takeovers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script code that gets reflected back to the user's browser through the Whitelist plugin's processing mechanisms. When a user clicks on the crafted link or navigates to the malicious page, the script code executes in the victim's browser context, potentially stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of the user. The reflected nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious script is not stored on the server but rather injected into the web application's response, making it particularly dangerous as it can be delivered through various vectors including email links, social media posts, or compromised websites. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which focuses on phishing with malicious links, where the reflected XSS serves as the exploitation vector for delivering malicious payloads to unsuspecting users.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-49643 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, data theft, and privilege escalation within the affected web application. Users who interact with the malicious content may have their authentication tokens stolen, leading to unauthorized access to their accounts and potentially the entire web application. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the Whitelist plugin, which is designed to control and filter content, making it particularly concerning as attackers can bypass the very security mechanisms that should protect the application. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that attackers do not need persistent access to the server to exploit this weakness, as each victim must be individually targeted through crafted links. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently click on links from untrusted sources, as the attack surface expands significantly. The impact is further amplified by the fact that this vulnerability affects versions up to 3.5, indicating that many installations may remain exposed if they have not been updated to newer versions that address this specific XSS weakness. Organizations using the fifthsegment Whitelist plugin in production environments face significant risk of user data compromise and potential system infiltration through this vulnerability.