CVE-2024-49663 in uCAT Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/29/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in elenkadark uCAT – Next Story ucat-next-story allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects uCAT – Next Story: from n/a through <= 2.0.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-49663 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the elenkadark uCAT – Next Story ucat-next-story web application. This reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability arises from inadequate input sanitization during web page generation processes, creating an exploitable vector that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions of the software from the initial release through version 2.0.0, indicating a persistent flaw that has not been addressed in the affected release cycle. The issue stems from the application's failure to properly neutralize user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content, creating an environment where malicious payloads can execute within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic reflected XSS attack pattern where malicious input is accepted through web parameters and immediately reflected back to users without proper sanitization or encoding. When a user visits a specially crafted URL containing malicious script code, the application processes this input and includes it directly in the generated HTML response without appropriate escaping or validation. This flaw operates at the web application layer and can be exploited through various attack vectors including phishing emails, malicious links in chat applications, or compromised web pages that direct users to the vulnerable endpoint. The reflected nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious script is not stored on the server but is instead executed immediately when the compromised page is loaded by a victim, making it particularly dangerous for user-facing applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-49663 extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious sites. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to steal user sessions, potentially gaining unauthorized access to administrative functions or sensitive user data. The reflected nature of the attack means that it can be delivered through social engineering tactics, making it difficult to detect and prevent through traditional network security measures. This vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing the category of injection flaws, and aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. The impact is particularly severe in environments where the application handles sensitive user information or provides administrative capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-49663 must focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. The primary defense involves ensuring all user-supplied input is properly sanitized before inclusion in web page generation processes, utilizing context-appropriate encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding for output contexts. Organizations should implement a comprehensive secure coding framework that includes automatic input validation, proper error handling, and regular security code reviews. The most effective long-term solution requires updating to a patched version of the uCAT – Next Story software, as the vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 2.0.0. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against script injection attacks, while regular security assessments and penetration testing can help identify similar vulnerabilities in related components. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls should also be deployed to monitor and block suspicious traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and following secure development practices as outlined in industry standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 security frameworks.