CVE-2024-49651 in WooCommerce Maintenance Mode Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/29/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Matt Royal WooCommerce Maintenance Mode woocommerce-maintenance-mode allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects WooCommerce Maintenance Mode: from n/a through <= 2.0.1.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2026
The CVE-2024-49651 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Matt Royal WooCommerce Maintenance Mode plugin, specifically impacting versions up to and including 2.0.1. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79, which defines improper neutralization of input during web page generation as a fundamental security weakness. The flaw manifests as a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability that occurs when the plugin fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, potentially enabling session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the affected system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when malicious input is passed through URL parameters or other user-controllable inputs that are then reflected back to users without proper sanitization or encoding. In the context of the WooCommerce Maintenance Mode plugin, this typically happens when administrators or users interact with maintenance mode pages that process user input without adequate validation. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious script is executed in the victim's browser when they navigate to a specially crafted URL containing the malicious payload. This type of attack vector is particularly effective in environments where administrators might inadvertently click on malicious links or where users might be tricked into visiting compromised pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive administrative functions and user data within the WooCommerce environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal administrator session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject malicious content that could compromise the entire e-commerce platform. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in WooCommerce environments where the plugin is actively used for maintenance operations, as it could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to the maintenance mode functionality itself. This could lead to complete compromise of the store's administrative capabilities and potentially expose sensitive customer data, payment information, and business-critical resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-49651 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the reflected XSS vulnerability, as this represents the most effective defense against the specific flaw. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout their web applications, particularly in areas where user input is processed and displayed. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script injection attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious URL parameters and unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes, combined with adherence to the principle of least privilege, can help prevent unauthorized modifications that might introduce similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide layered protection against exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability class.