CVE-2024-51719 in Simplistic SEO Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/09/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Kevin Walker, Roman Peterhans Simplistic SEO allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects Simplistic SEO: from n/a through 2.3.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in the Simplistic SEO plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions through 2.3.0. The flaw occurs during web page generation when the application fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into dynamic web content. This improper neutralization creates an avenue for attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability is classified as reflected XSS since the malicious payload is embedded in the application's response to a user request, typically through URL parameters or form inputs that are not adequately validated or escaped.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to apply proper input sanitization mechanisms when processing user-supplied data. When users interact with the SEO plugin's interface or when the plugin processes requests containing user input, the application does not sufficiently escape special characters or validate the input content before rendering it in HTML output. This allows attackers to craft malicious URLs or form submissions containing script tags or other executable code that gets reflected back to users' browsers. The vulnerability exists at the intersection of poor input validation and output encoding practices, creating a persistent security gap that enables unauthorized code execution within the victim's browser context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring authentication or privileged access. An attacker can construct malicious URLs containing XSS payloads that, when clicked by unsuspecting users, execute scripts in their browser sessions. This could lead to session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of web pages, or redirection to malicious sites. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that successful exploitation requires user interaction with a crafted link, but the ease of deployment and potential for widespread impact makes this particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently interact with web applications. The vulnerability affects the entire user base that accesses the affected WordPress site, making it a critical concern for site administrators.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the Simplistic SEO plugin to version 2.3.1 or later, which contains the necessary input sanitization fixes. System administrators should implement comprehensive input validation at multiple layers including web application firewalls, content security policies, and proper output encoding mechanisms. The principle of least privilege should be applied to limit the impact of successful exploitation, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar input handling vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can detect XSS patterns in web applications, and establish incident response procedures for rapid deployment of security patches when vulnerabilities are identified. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a typical entry point for attackers following ATT&CK technique T1566 for initial access through malicious links or content.