CVE-2024-52389 in WP Job Portal Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/19/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in WP Job Portal allows Stored XSS.This issue affects WP Job Portal: from n/a through 2.2.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/25/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2024-52389 represents a critical security flaw in the WP Job Portal plugin for WordPress systems, specifically classified as an improper neutralization of input during web page generation. This weakness falls under the broader category of cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, more precisely categorized as stored XSS attacks according to the CWE-79 framework. The vulnerability exists within the plugin's handling of user-supplied data during the dynamic generation of web pages, creating an exploitable condition where malicious scripts can be injected and subsequently executed in the context of other users' browsers. The affected version range spans from an unknown starting point through version 2.2.0, indicating that any installation within this range remains susceptible to exploitation.
The technical flaw manifests when the WP Job Portal plugin fails to properly sanitize or escape user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated HTML content. This insufficient input validation creates an environment where attackers can inject malicious JavaScript code through various submission points within the plugin's functionality. When legitimate users view pages containing this maliciously injected content, their browsers execute the embedded scripts, potentially leading to unauthorized actions performed on their behalf. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious payload persists in the application's database and is served to multiple users over time, amplifying the potential impact beyond a single incident.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities. These include but are not limited to credential theft, unauthorized administrative actions, data manipulation, and the potential for establishing persistent backdoors within the affected WordPress installation. The vulnerability particularly affects job portal functionality where users submit job listings, applications, or other content that gets rendered on public-facing pages. Attackers can exploit this weakness to compromise user accounts, modify job postings, or even gain administrative control over the entire WordPress system if the plugin's permissions are not properly restricted.
Security mitigations for CVE-2024-52389 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability, as recommended by the plugin developers and security vendors. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output escaping mechanisms to prevent similar issues in the future, adhering to established security practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and the ATT&CK framework's web application attack patterns. Additional protective measures include restricting user permissions, implementing content security policies, and conducting regular security audits of all installed plugins to identify potential vulnerabilities. Network monitoring should also be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should be performed to maintain defense-in-depth strategies against cross-site scripting attacks.