CVE-2024-50501 in Kata Plus Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/28/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Climax Themes Kata Plus kata-plus allows DOM-Based XSS.This issue affects Kata Plus: from n/a through <= 1.4.7.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-50501 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Climax Themes Kata Plus plugin, specifically impacting versions up to and including 1.4.7. This weakness falls under the broader category of improper input neutralization during web page generation, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability is classified as DOM-based XSS, meaning the malicious script is executed as part of the document object model rather than being reflected in HTTP responses, making it particularly challenging to detect and mitigate through traditional server-side filtering approaches.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied input parameters that are subsequently processed and rendered within the web page's DOM structure. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious URLs containing XSS payloads that, when executed in a victim's browser, can manipulate the DOM to perform unauthorized actions. The vulnerability's impact is amplified because it affects the plugin's core functionality where user interactions are processed and displayed, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious websites. This type of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the context of a compromised user session. An attacker could potentially hijack user sessions, modify page content, or redirect users to phishing sites that appear legitimate. The DOM-based nature of the vulnerability means that traditional input validation methods may not adequately protect against exploitation, as the malicious code is executed in the browser context rather than being processed server-side. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, where attackers might use the XSS vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads through compromised web pages, or T1071.001 - Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols, where the vulnerability could be exploited to manipulate web application behavior.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate security gap and implement broader defensive measures. The most critical action is to upgrade to the latest version of the Kata Plus plugin where this vulnerability has been patched, as the vendor has likely implemented proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed. Organizations should also consider implementing strict input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data, particularly in contexts where dynamic content is rendered. The implementation of proper security headers such as X-Content-Type-Options, X-Frame-Options, and Strict-Transport-Security can further enhance the overall security posture. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins and components of the web application ecosystem, as this type of weakness often indicates broader security gaps that require comprehensive remediation approaches.