CVE-2024-52346 in SimpleGMaps Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/19/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Javier Méndez Veira SimpleGMaps allows Stored XSS.This issue affects SimpleGMaps: from n/a through 1.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/25/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical web application security flaw that enables stored cross-site scripting attacks through improper input sanitization during web page generation. The vulnerability exists within the SimpleGMaps plugin developed by Javier Méndez Veira, specifically affecting versions from the initial release through version 1.0. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist in the application's database and execute whenever affected pages are loaded by unsuspecting users. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation as a primary weakness leading to various injection attacks. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that malicious payloads are not limited to single requests but are permanently embedded within the application's data storage, making them particularly dangerous as they can affect multiple users over extended periods.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the SimpleGMaps plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in generated web pages. This inadequate input validation allows attackers to inject malicious javascript code through parameters or fields that should only accept legitimate data. When the application processes these inputs and generates dynamic web content, the malicious scripts become embedded within the HTML output and execute in the context of users' browsers. The vulnerability's impact is amplified because it operates at the web application level where user sessions and browser contexts are fully trusted, enabling potential exploitation of user credentials, session hijacking, or redirection to malicious sites. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes social engineering attacks that can be facilitated through web-based vulnerabilities, and specifically T1203 which involves the exploitation of web applications to gain unauthorized access to user systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged for advanced persistent threats. Attackers can use this vulnerability to steal user authentication tokens, monitor user activities, redirect victims to phishing sites, or even deploy additional malware through the compromised browser contexts. The stored nature of the XSS payload means that even if administrators patch the vulnerability, previously injected malicious code continues to affect users until manually removed from the application's database. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous for applications that handle sensitive user data or provide administrative functions. The vulnerability affects the core web application functionality and can severely compromise the integrity and confidentiality of user data, potentially leading to complete system compromise if the application has administrative privileges or handles sensitive information. Organizations using SimpleGMaps version 1.0 or earlier should immediately implement mitigations including input sanitization, output encoding, and strict content validation to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input before storage and encoding all output before rendering to prevent script execution in browser contexts. Implementing a Content Security Policy (CSP) can provide additional protection by restricting script execution sources and preventing unauthorized code injection. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping software updated and following secure coding practices such as those outlined in OWASP Top 10 and the CWE database. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and monitoring to detect unauthorized modifications to application data that could indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, user education about recognizing potentially malicious web content and implementing proper session management practices can help reduce the impact of successful XSS attacks.