CVE-2024-49661 in leenk.me Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/29/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Lew Ayotte leenk.me leenkme allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects leenk.me: from n/a through <= 2.16.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2026
The CVE-2024-49661 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the leenk.me web application developed by Lew Ayotte. This reflected XSS vulnerability occurs during the web page generation process when the application fails to properly neutralize user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated HTML content. The vulnerability exists in versions of the leenk.me application ranging from the initial release through version 2.16.0, indicating a prolonged exposure window where attackers could exploit this weakness.
The technical flaw stems from the application's inadequate sanitization of input parameters that are directly reflected back to users in web page content without proper encoding or validation. When malicious input is submitted through parameters such as URL query strings or form fields, the application processes this data without implementing appropriate security measures to prevent script execution. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers, making it a classic reflected XSS attack vector. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, a well-documented weakness in web application security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and defacement of the affected web pages. An attacker could craft malicious URLs that, when clicked by unsuspecting users, would execute scripts in their browsers to steal session cookies, redirect them to malicious sites, or inject malicious content into the application. This poses a direct threat to user privacy and application integrity, potentially allowing unauthorized access to user accounts and sensitive data within the leenk.me ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-49661 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input before it is processed or displayed in web pages, using proper HTML encoding techniques such as entity encoding for special characters. Additionally, implementing a Content Security Policy (CSP) header can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed. Organizations should also consider implementing proper input validation libraries and conducting regular security code reviews to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which focuses on establishing persistence through web application vulnerabilities, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security measures to prevent exploitation.