CVE-2024-51599 in Simple Business Manager Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/09/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Russell Albin Simple Business Manager allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Simple Business Manager: from n/a through 4.6.7.4.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-51599 represents a critical security flaw in the Russell Albin Simple Business Manager application, specifically manifesting as an improper neutralization of input during web page generation. This weakness creates a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into the application's data storage, which then executes when other users view the affected content. The vulnerability exists within the web application's input processing mechanisms where user-supplied data is not adequately sanitized or escaped before being rendered in web pages, creating a persistent security risk that can affect all versions from the initial release through 4.6.7.4.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits malicious input through the application's forms or data entry points, which are then stored in the application's database without proper sanitization. When other users subsequently access pages containing this stored malicious content, the injected scripts execute in their browsers within the context of the vulnerable application, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the victim. This stored XSS vulnerability is particularly dangerous because the malicious scripts persist in the application's data store and can affect multiple users over time, unlike reflected XSS attacks that require specific user interaction with malicious links. The flaw aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, and demonstrates poor input validation and output encoding practices within the web application's architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate security concerns to encompass potential data breaches, unauthorized access to business information, and compromise of user sessions within the Simple Business Manager environment. Attackers could exploit this weakness to gain access to sensitive business data, customer information, or financial records stored within the application, potentially leading to significant financial losses and regulatory compliance violations. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that the vulnerability remains active until properly patched, creating ongoing risk for organizations using affected versions of the software. Organizations may also face reputational damage and legal consequences from data breaches resulting from this vulnerability, particularly if the application handles sensitive customer or business information. This flaw affects the application's core security posture and could enable attackers to establish persistent access to business management systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-51599 must prioritize immediate patching of the vulnerable application to the latest secure version that addresses the input sanitization and output encoding issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms that properly escape or sanitize all user-supplied data before storage and rendering, utilizing established security libraries and frameworks that provide built-in protection against XSS attacks. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts even if the primary vulnerability is not fully addressed. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar input validation weaknesses within the application's codebase, while comprehensive user input filtering and output encoding should be implemented across all web application components. Organizations using affected versions should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while establishing incident response procedures to address potential breaches resulting from this vulnerability. The remediation process should follow industry best practices for secure coding and application security, ensuring that all user inputs are properly validated and that output is appropriately escaped to prevent script execution in web contexts.