CVE-2024-51699 in Sticky Header Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/09/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Buooy Buooy Sticky Header allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects Buooy Sticky Header: from n/a through 0.5.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-51699 represents a critical security flaw in the Buooy Sticky Header plugin that manifests as improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically enabling reflected cross-site scripting attacks. This weakness falls under the well-established CWE-79 category known as "Cross-site Scripting" which occurs when web applications fail to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into dynamic web content. The vulnerability affects all versions of the Buooy Sticky Header plugin from the initial release through version 0.5.2, indicating a prolonged exposure window that could have allowed attackers to exploit this flaw for extended periods.
The technical implementation of this reflected XSS vulnerability occurs when the plugin fails to adequately sanitize or escape user-supplied input parameters before rendering them within HTML output. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when executed, will be reflected back to users browsing the affected website. This typically involves injecting malicious scripts through URL parameters, form fields, or other user-controllable input vectors that the plugin processes without proper validation or sanitization. The reflected nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious script is immediately reflected from the web server back to the user's browser without being stored on the server, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that rely heavily on dynamic content generation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as reflected XSS attacks can be leveraged for session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious sites. Attackers can exploit this flaw to steal user session cookies, potentially gaining unauthorized access to user accounts, or to redirect users to phishing sites that mimic legitimate services. The vulnerability affects the entire user base of websites utilizing the Buooy Sticky Header plugin, creating a potential attack surface that could be exploited at scale. Given that the plugin is designed to modify website headers dynamically, successful exploitation could compromise not just individual pages but entire website functionalities, potentially affecting user experience and website integrity.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of the Buooy Sticky Header plugin to version 0.5.3 or later, which should contain the necessary fixes to properly neutralize user input. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar issues in the future, following established security practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top 10 and the CWE guidelines for preventing cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. Network administrators should monitor for suspicious traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while security teams should consider implementing Content Security Policies to provide additional defense-in-depth measures against XSS attacks. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and maintaining up-to-date software versions to prevent exploitation of known security flaws that could be easily remediated through proper patch management procedures.