CVE-2024-51939 in Stylish Internal Links Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/19/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Santhosh veer Stylish Internal Links allows DOM-Based XSS.This issue affects Stylish Internal Links: from n/a through 1.9.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-51939 represents a critical security flaw in the Santhosh veer Stylish Internal Links plugin, specifically manifesting as an improper neutralization of input during web page generation. This weakness creates a DOM-based cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a user's browser session. The affected plugin version range spans from an unknown initial version through 1.9, indicating a widespread exposure across multiple iterations of the software. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-provided input parameters that are subsequently processed and rendered within the dynamic content of web pages, creating an attack surface where malicious scripts can be silently executed without user interaction.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the realm of CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications. This classification indicates that the plugin fails to properly validate and sanitize input data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content, particularly within the Document Object Model context. The DOM-based XSS characteristic means that the malicious script is executed as a result of modifying the DOM structure of the web page rather than through traditional server-side input handling. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious input that gets processed by the plugin and then rendered in a way that executes the injected code within the victim's browser environment, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the compromised system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of websites utilizing the affected plugin. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can manipulate the content and behavior of web pages in real-time, potentially redirecting users to malicious sites, stealing cookies and session tokens, or performing actions on behalf of authenticated users. The implications are particularly severe given that this affects a plugin designed for internal link management, which typically operates within trusted environments where security controls may be less stringent. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions suggests that the underlying flaw has not been adequately addressed in the plugin's codebase, leaving users exposed to potential exploitation for an extended period.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms within the plugin's codebase. The most effective approach involves applying strict validation and sanitization of all user-provided input parameters before they are processed or rendered in web page content, with particular emphasis on DOM manipulation functions that handle dynamic content generation. Security measures should include the implementation of Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution, proper encoding of dynamic content when rendered in HTML contexts, and regular security audits of input handling functions. Organizations should immediately update to the latest available version of the Stylish Internal Links plugin where the vulnerability has been patched, while also considering the implementation of web application firewalls and runtime monitoring solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Additionally, administrators should conduct thorough security assessments of their web applications to identify other potential DOM-based XSS vulnerabilities that may exist in similar components or plugins within their infrastructure.