CVE-2024-49656 in DocumentPress Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/29/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in fifthsegment DocumentPress documentpress-display-any-document-on-your-site allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects DocumentPress: from n/a through <= 2.1.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-49656 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness within the fifthsegment DocumentPress plugin, specifically affecting versions up to and including 2.1. This flaw resides in the web page generation process where input validation and sanitization mechanisms fail to properly neutralize user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web content. The reflected nature of this vulnerability means that malicious input is immediately reflected back to users through the web application's response without adequate sanitization, creating an exploitable vector for attackers to inject malicious scripts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation practices within the DocumentPress plugin's document display functionality. When users provide input parameters that are subsequently processed and rendered in web pages, the plugin fails to properly escape or encode special characters that could be interpreted as executable script code. This misconfiguration allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that, when executed in a victim's browser context, can perform unauthorized actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or executing arbitrary code within the victim's browsing context. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, making it a classic reflected cross-site scripting scenario.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable sophisticated attack chains targeting end users of websites utilizing the affected plugin. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform session hijacking, deface websites, or create backdoor access points for further compromise. The reflected nature means that exploitation typically requires social engineering to convince victims to click on malicious links containing crafted payloads, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or when embedded in legitimate-looking web traffic. Organizations using DocumentPress versions 2.1 or earlier face significant risk of unauthorized access and potential data breaches through this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-49656 should prioritize immediate remediation through plugin updates to versions that address the cross-site scripting vulnerability. System administrators must implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious data from being processed as executable code. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to limit script execution capabilities even if other protections fail. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block known malicious patterns associated with reflected XSS attacks. According to ATT&CK framework category T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, this vulnerability could be exploited to execute malicious commands through script injection, making comprehensive network monitoring essential. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be integrated into the development lifecycle to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future versions of the plugin or related applications.