CVE-2024-51577 in bpmn.io Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/10/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Camunda Services GmbH bpmn.Io allows Stored XSS.This issue affects bpmn.Io: from n/a through 1.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-51577 represents a critical security flaw in the bpmn.io web application developed by Camunda Services GmbH, specifically within the stored cross-site scripting mechanism. This weakness falls under the category of improper input neutralization during web page generation, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject persistent script code into the application's user interface. The vulnerability exists in versions of bpmn.io from the initial release through version 1.0, indicating a fundamental flaw in the application's input handling and output sanitization processes that has persisted across the early development cycle.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and sanitization of user-supplied input that is subsequently rendered in web pages without proper escaping or encoding. When users interact with the bpmn.io application, particularly when creating or modifying diagrams that contain user-generated content, the system fails to adequately neutralize potentially malicious script payloads. This allows an attacker to store malicious code within the application's database or storage mechanisms, which then executes whenever other users view the affected content. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious payload persists beyond the initial injection point, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over extended periods without requiring repeated exploitation attempts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it provides attackers with the capability to manipulate the application environment and potentially escalate privileges within the user context. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the browser of authenticated users, potentially leading to full account compromise, data exfiltration, or the redirection of users to malicious sites. The stored nature of the exploit means that even users who do not directly interact with the vulnerable application components can be affected when they encounter the maliciously stored content, creating a broader attack surface and making the vulnerability particularly challenging to contain and remediate. This type of vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where applications fail to properly neutralize input data before incorporating it into web pages.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data flow. The most effective approach involves implementing strict content security policies that prevent execution of unauthorized scripts, combined with proper HTML encoding of all user-supplied content before rendering it in web pages. Organizations should also consider implementing automatic sanitization of user inputs and employing web application firewalls to detect and prevent malicious script injection attempts. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify potential input validation gaps, while developers should follow secure coding practices that emphasize the principle of least privilege and proper input sanitization. The remediation process should include immediate code review and patching of the identified vulnerability, followed by comprehensive testing to ensure that all user-generated content is properly escaped and validated before being stored or displayed within the application interface. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining robust security practices throughout the software development lifecycle and highlights the need for continuous monitoring and updating of security controls to address evolving threats in web application environments.