CVE-2024-51884 in Posts Search Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/19/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Takashi Matsuyama Posts Search allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Posts Search: from n/a through 1.2.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2024-51884 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Posts Search plugin developed by Takashi Matsuyama. This security weakness manifests as improper neutralization of input during web page generation, creating an environment where malicious scripts can be persistently stored and subsequently executed in the browsers of unsuspecting users. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions of the plugin ranging from an unknown starting point through version 1.2.2, indicating a potential window of exposure that requires immediate attention from affected users and administrators.
The technical flaw underlying this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input within the plugin's web page generation process. When users submit search queries or other input through the Posts Search functionality, the application fails to properly validate and sanitize this data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages. This inadequate input handling creates a persistent storage vector for malicious payloads, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that are then stored within the application's database or storage mechanisms. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious code executes every time the affected page is loaded, 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 script execution, as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities through the compromised web application. Attackers can leverage this stored XSS vulnerability to steal user sessions, redirect victims to malicious websites, deface web pages, or even execute more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft or privilege escalation within the affected environment. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that even users who do not actively interact with the vulnerable input fields can be compromised simply by viewing pages that contain the maliciously stored content. This vulnerability particularly threatens WordPress environments where the Posts Search plugin is installed, as it can provide attackers with a foothold to compromise entire websites or user accounts within the WordPress ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the XSS flaw, as provided by the vendor. System administrators must also implement additional defensive measures including input validation, output encoding, and content security policies to reduce the potential impact of similar vulnerabilities. The CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) classification for this issue aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities through improper neutralization of input during web page generation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving client-side code injection and session hijacking, with potential for privilege escalation through user account compromise. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their WordPress installations to identify any other plugins or themes that may be vulnerable to similar input validation flaws, as the presence of one such vulnerability often indicates potential exposure to related security weaknesses within the broader application ecosystem.