CVE-2024-49662 in Simple Load More Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/29/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Webgensis Simple Load More simple-load-more allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects Simple Load More: from n/a through <= 1.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-49662 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Webgensis Simple Load More plugin, specifically impacting versions ranging from the initial release through version 1.0. This reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability occurs during the web page generation process when the application fails to properly neutralize user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. The flaw exists in the plugin's handling of HTTP request parameters that are directly echoed back to users without adequate sanitization or encoding mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's improper input validation and output encoding practices during the dynamic page generation phase. When user-supplied parameters are received through HTTP requests and subsequently reflected back to the browser without proper sanitization, malicious actors can inject arbitrary JavaScript code that executes within the context of other users' browsers. This creates a persistent vector for attackers to establish malicious sessions, steal user credentials, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of victims. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 focusing on use of web shell for persistence and command execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to compromise user sessions and execute malicious code within the target environment. An attacker can craft malicious URLs containing XSS payloads that, when clicked by a victim, will execute the injected JavaScript in the victim's browser context. This could result in session hijacking, data exfiltration, or the redirection of users to malicious sites. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the attack payload must be delivered through external means such as email links or social engineering, as the malicious code is reflected back from the server rather than stored on the target system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's request handling pipeline. The most effective immediate solution involves sanitizing all user-supplied input parameters before they are processed or reflected back to users, utilizing proper HTML encoding techniques such as htmlspecialchars in php environments or equivalent encoding mechanisms in other languages. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. The plugin developers should also consider implementing proper parameter validation to ensure that incoming requests conform to expected data formats and reject any input that contains potentially malicious content. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be integrated into the development lifecycle to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future releases. Organizations using this plugin should upgrade to patched versions as soon as they become available and implement monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts.